Dubai is undertaking a significant aviation expansion with the construction of the world’s largest airport, the Al Maktoum International Airport, a £28 billion megaproject. This new airport will surpass the existing Dubai International Airport (DXB) and is designed to handle an impressive 260 million passengers annually.

Once completed, Al Maktoum International Airport will cover an extensive area of 70 square kilometres, which is five times larger than DXB. The airport will boast five parallel runways and 400 aircraft gates equipped with advanced aviation technology. In comparison, DXB, currently the busiest international airport, managed 86.9 million passengers last year.

The Al Maktoum International Airport is expected to replace DXB over the next decade, with its first phase set to handle 150 million passengers each year upon completion in ten years. Additionally, this airport will serve as a major freight hub, capable of processing 12 million tonnes of cargo annually.

Beyond its function as an airport, the project will be at the heart of a new aerotropolis, a city designed around air travel. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has highlighted that this expansion aims not only to increase passenger capacity but also to create a sustainable urban environment, providing housing and jobs for up to one million residents.

The need for this monumental airport project arises from the rapid growth of Dubai’s tourism sector. In 2023, Dubai welcomed 17.15 million international visitors, surpassing pre-pandemic figures. With the D33 economic vision allocating £21 billion for tourism investments, a larger and more advanced airport is essential for maintaining this momentum.

Moreover, DXB has reached its operational limits, with surrounding urban infrastructure restricting further development. The scale of Al Maktoum International will ensure that Dubai remains a dominant force in global aviation for years to come.

Initially opened in 2010 as a cargo facility, Al Maktoum began handling passenger flights in 2022, welcoming 877,400 travellers in its first year of commercial operation. The upcoming expansion, designed by Leslie Jones Architecture from London, will feature a modern terminal that includes a sleek white canopy, green spaces, and iconic palm trees, along with luxury shopping outlets, five-star hotels, and business centres.

Once operational, Al Maktoum International will eclipse all existing airports in terms of size and capacity. For context, Dubai International Airport (DXB) spans 13.5 square kilometres, while London Heathrow (LHR) covers 12.3 square kilometres. In 2023, Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson (ATL), the world’s busiest airport, handled 104 million passengers, which is less than half of Al Maktoum’s projected capacity.

With construction already underway, the first flights from this ambitious aviation project are expected within the next decade, solidifying Dubai’s status as the leading air travel hub globally.