The Al Maktoum International Airport is undergoing a massive expansion to become the world’s largest airport. The airport is designed to have 400 gates and five runways with a capacity of 260 million passengers. This ambitious project is part of Dubai South, a planned city expected to accommodate 1 million people.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai, announced the upgrade of the Al Maktoum International Airport, stating that Dubai is building for future generations. The airport is expected to cost $35 billion to construct over the next 10 years and will serve as a central hub for global travel, trade, and urban development.
Currently, Dubai International Airport is the busiest in the world, with 87 million passengers in 2023. However, all operations will be moved to the Al Maktoum facility once it is completed. The airport will have five parallel runways and 400 aircraft gates, surrounded by a new city with housing for 1 million people.
Opened in 2010, the Al Maktoum International Airport, also known as Dubai World Central, currently has one terminal and two runways. The airport is a key element of Dubai South, a strategy to create a thriving economic zone with jobs and residences for a million people across 55 square miles.
The expansion of the Al Maktoum International Airport comes as travel to Dubai returns to pre-pandemic levels, with 17.15 million international visitors in 2023. This growth in tourism and trade underlines the importance of investing in infrastructure to support future development and prosperity in Dubai.