Latest insights into the $35bn Al Maktoum International Airport expansion plans have been provided by the Kingdom’s Crown Prince. Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum is also the chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai. He noted that work on the airport expansion is continuing according to the approved timeline.

Furthermore, he highlighted that phase 1 is scheduled to begin operations in 2032. These remarks were issued on his post on the social messaging platform X. He also added that contracts worth AED13 billion are currently being executed. Moreover, more than 10 million work hours have been completed over the past month. Al Maktoum International Airport is being developed to handle more than a quarter of a billion passengers annually, supporting Dubai’s long-term economic growth.

“Dubai’s major projects continue to advance with steady progress and confidence,” Sheikh Hamdan stated. Once complete, its estimated handling capacity will rank it as the world’s largest airport. However, the King Salman International Airport in Saudi Arabia is also garnering for the title.

Scope of Implementation on the Al Maktoum International Airport Expansion Plans

The expansion plans on the Al Maktoum International Airport will ensure that it has an annual capacity of more than 260 million passengers. It will also entail an accommodation capacity of 12 million tonnes of air cargo. . It will have five parallel runways, 2 passenger terminals, seven concourses and 430 aircraft stands. The airport is needed because Dubai International cannot be expanded significantly.

One of the key challenges is runway capacity. It only has two runways, and with built-up urban areas on either side of the airport, there is no available land on which to build new runways.  Another driver for the project is regional competition. Dubai International is the region’s largest airport, and Emirates is the region’s largest airline. Plans in Saudi Arabia now challenge that position.

Preparations are underway for the award of several major packages by year-end with a combined value exceeding AED55 billion. These include the substructure works for the Western Passenger Terminal, the fourth aircraft concourse building, the Automated People Mover (APM) system, and the Baggage Handling System (BHS). It also entails the superstructure works for the Western Passenger Terminal and the first, second, and third aircraft concourses.

Project Factsheet:

• Project Name: Al Maktoum International Airport Expansion
• Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
• Estimated Investment Value: $35 Billion (AED 128+ Billion)
• Project Type: Airport Expansion and Aviation Infrastructure Development

Timeline

• Expansion works are progressing according to the approved development schedule
• More than 10 million work hours have already been completed
• Contracts worth approximately AED13 billion are currently under execution
• Phase 1 of the expanded airport is scheduled to commence operations in 2032

Site & Capacity

• Planned to handle more than 260 million passengers annually
• Designed to process up to 12 million tonnes of air cargo each year
• Will feature five parallel runways to support large-scale flight operations
• Once complete, it is expected to become one of the world’s largest airports by passenger capacity

Key Infrastructure Components

• Development includes two passenger terminals and seven concourses
• Airport will provide approximately 430 aircraft stands
• Automated People Mover (APM) system will improve passenger connectivity across the airport

Major Contracts and Upcoming Packages

• AED13 billion worth of contracts are currently under implementation
• Several major packages valued at more than AED55 billion are being prepared for award by year-end
• Upcoming works include the Western Passenger Terminal substructure and superstructure packages

Current Status

• Construction and engineering activities are advancing steadily
• Phase 1 remains on track for operational launch in 2032
• Major procurement activities are underway for the next development stages
• The airport is being developed to serve as Dubai’s future primary aviation gateway and a global transportation hub