The Ruler of Dubai announces the construction of the largest airport terminal in the world Aviation news

Al Maktoum International Airport is expected to accommodate 260 million passengers when completed.

The ruler of the emirate said that Dubai has begun work on a $35 billion airport building that is scheduled to have the largest capacity in the world when completed.

Prime Minister and Vice President of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum said on Sunday that the new terminal will be five times larger than the current Dubai International Airport and will handle up to 260 million passengers annually.

Sheikh Mohammed said that all operations at Dubai International Airport will be transferred to the newer Al Maktoum International Airport in the coming years.

“As we build an entire city around the airport in Dubai South, the demand for housing for a million people will follow. It will host leading global companies in the logistics and air transport sectors,” Sheikh Mohammed said in his statements to X.

“We are building a new project for future generations, ensuring the continuous and stable development of our children and their children in turn. Dubai will be the world’s airport, port, urban center, and new global hub.”

Today, we approved the designs of the new passenger buildings at Al Maktoum International Airport, and began construction of the building at a cost of 128 billion dirhams within the strategy of the Dubai Aviation Corporation.

Al Maktoum International Airport will enjoy… pic.twitter.com/oG973DGRYX

– His Highness Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) April 28, 2024

Once completed, Al Maktoum International Airport, which opened in 2010, will be the new home of leading airline Emirates and will feature five parallel runways and 400 aircraft gates.

Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, said that the project will enhance Dubai's position as a leading aviation hub.

“Dubai’s growth has always gone hand in hand with the growth of its aviation infrastructure, and today we see another bold step on that journey,” Griffiths said in a statement.

Dubai International Airport has been the world's busiest airport for international travel for 10 consecutive years, putting the facility's capacity under pressure.

Nearly 87 million travelers used the transit hub last year, exceeding pre-pandemic levels.

Dubai has announced a record 17.15 million overnight international visitors in 2023, an increase of nearly 20 percent on the previous year.