Dubai sets sights on building the world’s busiest airport at Al Maktoum International
Dubai has launched the next phase of development at Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC), unveiling expansion plans that will transform the facility into the largest and busiest airport in the world, capable of handling up to 260 million passengers annually. The project, backed by investments worth US$35 billion, represents one of the most ambitious airport expansion programmes undertaken anywhere in the world.
At the launch of the new terminal’s design approval in April 2024, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum said the development would “secure Dubai’s position as a global leader in aviation for the next 50 years,” noting that DWC will ultimately replace Dubai International Airport (DXB) as the emirate’s primary aviation gateway.
A next-generation global air hub
DWC’s main terminal will be the largest in the world when completed, while the airport itself will boast five runways, four of which will be able to operate independently, alongside six concourses, more than 400 aircraft contact stands, and an integrated multimodal transport system including metro links, airside automated people movers and advanced baggage handling systems.
The initial operational phase, slated for the early 2030s, will provide capacity for 150 million passengers, eventually rising to 260 million in subsequent phases. The airport will be capable of handling 12 million tonnes of cargo per year, strengthening Dubai’s logistics and freight capabilities.
Commenting on the expansion, Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, said it would solidify “Dubai’s position as a leading aviation hub on the world stage”, emphasising that the new airport will provide a “quick, convenient and high-quality 21st-century experience” for travellers.
Key milestones and construction progress
According to Griffiths, the project is progressing according to schedule. Contracts for enabling works and the second runway have already been awarded, while tenders for the airport’s automated people mover and baggage handling system are in the final stages.
Upcoming milestones include tenders for foundations, concrete works, cooling stations and 132 kV substations. The phased development will see the construction of a central terminal complex, four satellite concourses and DWC’s integrated transport hub.
The airport sits within a 70 sq km aviation and logistics district in Dubai South, forming the core of the region’s largest integrated air–sea–land transport ecosystem. DWC already functions as Dubai’s main cargo gateway, with more than 20 cargo airlines serving more than 40 destinations from the airport. In 2023, it handled a record 576,000 tonnes of freight.
Passenger traffic is also accelerating. DWC welcomed 1.1 million passengers in 2024, driven mainly by CIS and European markets, with Russia accounting for 713,000 arrivals.
A catalyst for Dubai’s next phase of growth
DWC’s expansion aligns closely with the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33), which aims to double the size of the emirate’s economy in the decade to 2033. Aviation contributes more than 27% of Dubai’s GDP, and the sector’s continued growth is seen as central to achieving long-term economic targets.
Khalifa Al Zaffin, executive chairman of Dubai Aviation City Corporation, said the new airport “will unlock the next stage of Dubai’s aviation growth, reinforcing our leadership’s vision to make Dubai the aviation capital of the world”. He adds that DWC’s proximity to Jebel Ali Port and Jebel Ali Free Zone creates a powerful multimodal logistics corridor supporting one million residents and workers in Dubai South.
Shaping Dubai’s tourism and business future
DWC’s expansion is expected to generate thousands of direct and indirect jobs, stimulating growth across the emirate’s real estate, tourism, hospitality and supply-chain sectors.
The airport’s scale and advanced design are also set to reinforce Dubai’s status as one of the world’s most-visited tourism destinations. The emirate welcomed 18.7 million international visitors in 2024, and officials expect this number to rise significantly over the next decade, aided by the expansion of aviation infrastructure.
Alongside tourism, the airport is expected to attract multinational companies and other investors drawn to the scale of surrounding development opportunities in Dubai South — now one of the fastest-growing urban districts in the UAE.
A phased transition from DXB
Dubai International Airport (DXB) will continue to operate as the city’s main international air hub through the 2030s, handling more than 100 million passengers annually in the coming years. Officials say the transition to DWC will take place “in an integrated and simultaneous manner” to avoid disruptions.
Short- and medium-term upgrades around DXB are already underway, including road network enhancements to ease congestion and maintain accessibility.
With its vast capacity, advanced infrastructure and strategic location, DWC will accelerate Dubai’s transformation into a global super-hub, dwarfing rivals such as London Heathrow, Singapore Changi and Istanbul Airport.
As Dubai Airports’ Griffiths states, “Dubai’s growth has always gone hand-in-hand with the growth of its aviation infrastructure”. With the expansion of DWC now underway, the emirate is preparing for its most transformative leap yet.
