Dubai Begins Construction on World's Largest Airport Terminal

Dubai has commenced construction on a new $35 billion passenger terminal at Al Maktoum International Airport, which is set to become the world's largest airport with an annual capacity of 260 million passengers. The approval for the massive project was given by Dubai's ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, during his visit to the Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects.

The new terminal will be five times the size of the current Dubai International Airport and will feature five parallel runways, 400 aircraft gates, and employ state-of-the-art aviation technologies. All operations at Dubai International Airport will eventually be transferred to the new facility in the coming years.

The airport is part of a larger development in Dubai South, which will accommodate a million people and host leading companies in the logistics and air transport sectors. The first phase of the project is expected to be completed within 10 years, with a capacity to handle 150 million passengers annually.

Why this matters: The development of this new airport is seen as an integral part of Dubai's economy and a major contributor to the Dubai Economic Agenda D33. It is expected to generate a significant workforce and residential requirement for over a million people living and working in the Dubai South aerotropolis.

Sheikh Mohammed emphasized the importance of the project, stating, "The new airport is Dubai's gateway to the world, and a global hub for the world's leading companies in the logistics and air transport sectors." He added that the airport aims to achieve a LEED Gold Certification and contribute to Dubai's economic growth and sustainability goals.

The designs for the new terminal were approved by Sheikh Mohammed, and construction will begin immediately. The airport will utilize advanced technologies never before used in the aviation sector. Dubai Airports plans to encourage more airlines to move their operations to the new terminal in the coming years.

The new airport is part of Dubai's strategy to cement its position as a global aviation and logistics center. It is expected to support Dubai's aviation sector for the next 40 years and contribute significantly to the city's economic growth and sustainability objectives. The project also aligns with the UAE's vision of minimizing environmental impact and achieving sustainability in its developments.

Key Takeaways

• Dubai to build $35B passenger terminal at Al Maktoum Airport, world's largest
• New terminal 5x size of Dubai International, with 5 runways and 400 aircraft gates
• First phase to be completed in 10 years, with 150M passenger capacity annually
• Project part of Dubai's economic agenda, to generate 1M jobs and residents
• Airport aims for LEED Gold, support Dubai's aviation and sustainability goals