Dubai has revealed new plans for its £27.7 billion Al Maktoum International “mega-airport”, due to open in phases from 2032, featuring palm-tree piazzas and “floating” gardens
Dubai has unveiled fresh details for what is set to become the world’s biggest airport. The planned Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) is likely to become a $35billion (£26b) mega-hub when its first major phase launches in 2032.
The project is designed to eventually handle up to 260 million passengers a year and 12 million tonnes of cargo. It will further encompass five parallel runways, two passenger terminals and seven concourses providing more than 430 aircraft stands.
Plans also include around 400 gates and the ability to process up to 360 flights an hour. Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths told reporters at a media roundtable on Wednesday (August 26) that about £2.8b worth of contracts are already under construction with a further £11.7 billion due to be awarded in packages over the coming months.
“We’ve already in the last 15 months committed 10 million work hours of activity to the new project,” Griffiths said. “17,000 piles are already in the ground, and 45 million cubic metres of earth has been moved at Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC).
“What other proof do you need that our confidence in the future is completely unfazed by the development of the new airport?” Once built, all flights currently using Dubai International Airport (DXB) are set to transition to the new site in carefully managed phases, with DWC becoming the main hub, Gulf News reported.
Design images released by the Dubai Media Office show a futuristic “urban oasis” terminal – featuring indoor micro-climates, planted courtyards, internal forests and “floating” vertical gardens. Passengers can also expect huge indoor piazzas filled with real palm trees beneath sweeping curved white roofs designed to flood the building with natural light, alongside shopping, dining and relaxation areas.
To move travellers around a site spanning about 70 square kilometres, Dubai is commissioning what it says will be the world’s largest Automated People Mover: a 50km driverless underground rail network serving nine stations, led by a consortium headed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.
The airport also promises “queue-free” AI security and biometric facial scanning, plus off-site baggage drop systems – with engineers claiming a strict “15-minute rule” to get luggage back to passengers after landing.
Officials reportedly say the airfield will be reinforced to support next-generation electric and hydrogen-fuelled commercial aircraft.
The wider development sits at the heart of Dubai South, with major transport links also being built.
Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority is reportedly investing $5.6 billion (about £4.4 billion) in the 30km Metro Blue Line, and has approved $9.3 billion (about £7.4 billion) for the 42km fully underground Metro Gold Line, due to open on September 9, 2032.
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