Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and ruler of Dubai, granted approval on Sunday, April 28, for the designs of a new passenger terminal at Al Maktoum International Airport. Anticipated to be the largest globally upon full operation, the terminal is projected to cost 128 billion Dirhams and accommodate an annual passenger capacity of 260 million.
Upon its completion, the project will expand the airport’s footprint to five times that of the current Dubai International Airport (DXB). Over the next decade, Dubai Airport operations will transition to Al Maktoum Airport, which is slated to handle 12 million tons of cargo annually across 70 square kilometers.
In a statement to X, Sheikh Mohammed outlined plans for the migration of all Dubai Airport operations to the new facility in the forthcoming years. He highlighted key features of the airport, including 400 aircraft gates, five parallel runways, and the integration of cutting-edge aviation technologies unprecedented in the sector.
Sheikh Mohammed underscored the development of an entire airport city within Dubai South, envisaging a surge in housing demand for one million individuals and the establishment of “the world’s most important companies in the logistics and air transport sector.”
Concluding his remarks, he emphasized the strategic vision behind the project, aimed at ensuring sustained growth and prosperity for future generations, positioning Dubai as a global hub for aviation, maritime trade, urban development, and cultural enrichment.
