Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has reviewed plans for a new passenger terminal at the Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai South.
The additions will cost AED128 billion ($34.8 billion approximately), and the new airport will be five times larger than Dubai International Airport (DXB) and aims to eventually handle 260 million passengers annually.
After completion, all operations will transfer from Dubai International to Al Maktoum International, a statement from the Office of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum said.
Sheikh Mohammed approves design plans for new AED128 billion airport terminal
Sheikh Mohammed visited the Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects headquarters along with Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, and Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, First Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance.
The Dubai Ruler approved the designs for the new passenger terminal as part of Dubai Aviation Corporation’s strategy, and construction will begin.
“Al Maktoum International Airport will enjoy the world’s largest capacity, reaching up to 260 million passengers. It will be five times the size of the current Dubai International Airport, and all operations at Dubai International Airport will be transferred to it in the coming years. The airport will accommodate 400 aircraft gates and feature five parallel runways. New aviation technologies will be employed for the first time in the aviation sector,” Sheikh Mohammed said.
As the airport is being developed, “demand for housing for a million people will follow,” Sheikh Mohammed revealed, as an entire city will be built around it in Dubai South.
Sheikh Mohammed further explained that the project will “ensure continuous and stable development for our children and their children in turn. Dubai will be the world’s airport, its port, its urban hub, and its new global centre.”
Sheikh Mohammed was also accompanied by Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Second Deputy Ruler of Dubai; Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Aviation City Corporation, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman and CEO of Emirates Airline and Group; and Mohammad bin Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs, and Chairman of the Dubai Executive Office.
Inside Dubai’s Airport of the Future
Covering an expansive area of 70 square kilometers, the Airport of the Future will have a capacity of over 260 million passengers and 12 million tonnes of cargo per year once fully developed.
Sheikh Mohammed was briefed on the key design features and strategic implementation plan for the airport.
“With the continuous support and blessings of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed and in keeping with his vision for the Aviation industry in Dubai, we announce the commencement of the design and construction process for the new airport at Jebel Ali. It is expected that the first phase of the project will be ready within a period of 10 years, with a capacity to accommodate 150 million passengers annually,” Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed said, adding that the new airport will be over five times the size of DXB and will prepare for the expected growth in Dubai’s aviation sector over the next 40 years.
The airport will incorporate cutting-edge technologies and provide state-of-the-art facilities and services to passengers.
It will feature five parallel runways, west and east processing terminals, four satellite concourses with over 400 aircraft contact stands, and an integrated landside transport hub for roads, Metro, and city air transport.
Sustainability is a key focus, with the airport aiming to mitigate environmental emissions and achieve LEED Gold Certification, Sheikh Ahmed said.
“The development of this new airport will be an integral part of Dubai’s economy and major contributor to the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33). It will generate estimated workforce and residential requirement for over a million people living and working in Dubai South (the aerotropolis), which has been under development and operation since 2007,” Khalifa Al Zaffin, Executive Chairman of Dubai Aviation City Corporation said.
Suzanne Al Anani, CEO of Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects, added: “Dubai spearheads again. With the determination to maintain its leading role in the aviation sector globally, this airport development will represent a completely new approach to the concept of airports. The exponential acceleration of technologies and the abundance of knowledge in innovation will make us reinvent the passenger journey and experience.
“Connectivity and accessibility are also prioritised in coordination with our strategic partners, ensuring efficient public transportation links and a reduced reliance on private transport, which supports the reduction of the project’s carbon footprint,” she said.
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