Infrastructural development in Dubai has been ongoing for the last few decades and it’s not stopping anytime soon. From what was a dry, arid desert land to one of the most beautiful cities the world has ever seen, the emirate has witnessed significant transformation but there’s more to be seen.
Dubai has recently unveiled an ambitious plan for Al Maktoum International Airport. This plan will see it become the world’s largest capacity airport— a pacesetter as always. There are several remarkable architectures and structures in the city to marvel at, yet it strives to be the first metropolis that comes to mind when you think of the world’s wonders.
Recent updates have confirmed that it will become the main airport in the emirate after construction is completed. The planned construction will happen in three phases, and will see it completed with a total capacity of an amazing 260 million passengers. In comparison, the DWC Airport Dubai as it is currently known, only serves a small fraction of its eventual capacity once the construction is completed in the near future.
Now the hot question - What do we know about Dubai’s Al Maktoum International Airport expansion plans? Before we discuss the crux of this issue, let’s explore a brief history of the iconic airport, so we can have a better idea of how it will transform the city and its impact on the rest of the world once it is completed.
What Do We Know About Dubai International Airport?
Al Maktoum International Airport first opened for operations in 2010. Construction started in 2005, with a goal to build a fully functional “aerotropolis” in Jebel Ali, Dubai South. With the completion of phase one, the airport had a single runway for only cargo flights. In 2013, the Maktoum airport began passenger flights, and has undergone rapid transformation ever since.
Since beginning full operations over a decade ago, plans had been rolled out for its expansion. In 2024, an announcement declared that the airport would become the busiest across the globe.
The Al Maktoum Airport expansion plan includes the construction of a new city with the airport at its center. The 140 square kilometer project will accommodate six clustered zones, which will include the Commercial City, Residential City, Dubai Logistics City, Golf City, and Aviation City.
The expansion plan as stated earlier will feature three separate phases slated for completion in a decade from now.
The Beginning - Al Maktoum International Airport Phase One
In a post on his X handle dated April 28, 2024, the ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum stated:
“Today, we approved the designs for the new passenger terminals at Al Maktoum International Airport, and commencing construction of the building at a cost of AED 128 billion as part of Dubai Aviation Corporation's strategy…”
With the project due to start, the initial phase will commence with the West Terminal Building construction, which will connect the new city surrounding the airport with a new express metro line, and Concourse 1.
The phase one projects are happening on a grand scale.
Concourse 1 will connect to 100 contact gates and four underground stations built to give passengers quick access to the airport. It will be one of four identical 2.7 kilometer concourses, featuring cutting-edge technology and equipment, and covering a total area of 2.3 million square meters.
A massive underground train network, dubbed the “Automated People Mover (APM)” by the planners will also grace the Dubai new airport.
The airfield will have runways 2 and 3 constructed in the first phase, alongside underground baggage handling and ground service equipment road systems.
Other facilities such as storage and maintenance areas, fire safety stations, and energy centers will be built on the north side of the airport.
Phase one completion will see the airport handling 130 million annual passengers, which is approximately 40 million more passengers than the number that travelled through Dubai International Airport in the year 2024. The initial phase is slated for completion in 2032.
Phase 2 - A Discovery for the Whole World
An identical concourse to the first one, having a capacity of 150 million annual travelers across 200 contact gates, will be constructed in the next decade.
In addition, there’ll be three new underground train stations to serve the second concourse, and several other support facilities.
Final Phase - The Mega Project
Once the Al Maktoum International Airport expansion plans are completed, the airport will become five times the size of DXB, which currently holds the title of the world’s busiest airport.
In the statement by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed, he added,
“…Al Maktoum International Airport will enjoy the world's largest capacity, reaching up to 260 million passengers. It will be five times the size of the current Dubai International Airport, and all operations at Dubai International Airport will be transferred to it in the coming years. The airport will accommodate 400 aircraft gates and feature five parallel runways. New aviation technologies will be employed for the first time in the aviation sector…”
The final phase will include the construction of Concourse 3 and 4, and the East Terminal, providing transport access to the eastern side of the cities around the airport.
Also, the construction of a new Dubai Metro and a connection to the Etihad Rail will be completed.
As mentioned by His Highness in the post on X, all operations of the Dubai International Airport will be transferred to the Al Maktoum International Airport when completed.
When is the Expected Date of Completion?
In a statement by the President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, he highlighted that the first phase will be completed in about a decade and will have a capacity of 150 million travelers yearly.
In another briefing, Dubai Airport’s CEO Paul Griffiths said the expansion projects won’t be completed until about three decades — way into the 2050s. Several plans are currently in motion and progress reports will be communicated in the near future.
Plans for maintenance upgrades and facility overhaul are ongoing for Dubai International Airport. Once it reaches a capacity of 120 million annual passengers, a new airport will be required, hence the need for Al Maktoum Airport’s expansion.
Al Maktoum International Airport - A Glimpse into the Future
Already being planned to become the busiest international airport the world has ever seen, the global impact is not in doubt. With a capacity of 260 million passengers annually, the airport with its cutting-edge technology, several quick access points, and top-notch transport networks, is set to become a global pacesetter in aviation.
In the near future, several changes will be coming to the City of Gold, including job opportunities due to the construction of Al Maktoum International Airport and renovation of the Dubai International Airport. The housing plans when completed are expected to accommodate up to a million people. This rapid growth and huge infrastructural developments are a testament to Dubai’s burning desire to become one of the most prosperous nations in the world.
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