Dubai is investing $34 billion in a new airport, touted to be five times larger than Dubai International Airport, capable of handling 260 million passengers and 15 million tons of cargo annually. It will have five parallel runaways and 400 gates and will be called Al Maktoum International Airport in honour of the ruling family.
An entire city will be built around Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai south, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, ruler of the city state posted on X. He said housing for a million will follow and it will accommodate the world’s leading companies in the logistics and air transport sectors.
“We are building a new project for future generations,” he posted on X, “ensuring continuous and stable development for our children and their children in turn. Dubai will be the world’s airport, its port, urban hub and its new global centre.”
The new airport will be a centre for global aviation innovation showcasing smart airport systems and passenger-centric facilities. The West Terminal Building at the Dubai International Airport will host origin and destination passengers with dedicated halls for first class, business class and economy class flyers.
The 14-station Automated People Mover will seamlessly carry travellers from terminals to concourses as well as between concourses, allowing transferring passengers to reach connecting flights through the shortest and smoothest path. Intuitive way finding will guide all transfers while an abundance of offerings including retail, food and beverage, relaxation and entertainment will provide travellers with unparalleled experience.
The multi-modal cargo hub will enable air, land and sea connection with dedicated freight storage space on the airside, land side and by the seaport. These are crucial links for the close by Logistics District, which will continue to grow as the international base for global cargo and shipping companies. A multiphase plan will allow milestones to be continually reached. The aim is to anticipate growth of traffic and align airport expansion accordingly.
