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Abu Dhabi, May 9, 2025 – In April 2024, Dubai’s ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, approved a bold new airport project set to rise in Dubai South. With an estimated cost of AED 128 billion (about $35 billion), Dubai’s New Airport plan aims to turn Al Maktoum International into the largest flight hub in the world. He also pointed out that, over time, Dubai’s New Airport, this new facility, will take over as Dubai’s main airport, with all current airline operations eventually moving there.
Sheikh Mohammed highlighted that Dubai’s New Airport, the new airport, will ultimately serve as the primary hub for the emirate as all of Dubai’s current airline operations move there. During a strategy review at Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects, Dubai’s New Airport was a central topic.
Sheikh Mohammed said, “We approved the designs for the new passenger terminal at Al Maktoum International Airport, and are commencing construction of the building at a cost of AED 128 billion”.
The plan calls for phased construction. Dubai aviation authorities expect the first phase of Dubai’s New Airport to be completed by around 2032, with an interim capacity of roughly 150 million passengers. Over time, Dubai’s New Airport will grow into a fully integrated aerotropolis.
Design and Infrastructure
The airport’s architectural design is being led by Coop Himmelb(l)au in collaboration with engineering firm Dar Al-Handasah, working with Dubai’s Aviation City Corporation. Early graphics show Dubai’s New Airport with a futuristic terminal with sweeping white roofs, vast open halls, and extensive greenery. The design emphasizes advanced engineering and passenger comfort: natural lighting, smart navigation systems, and artificial intelligence will help streamline flow and security.
Sustainability is a priority – plans call for maximizing daylight, using renewable energy, and aiming for high efficiency in HVAC and lighting. In its full build-out, Dubai’s New Airport will have five parallel runways and a modern people-mover system linking terminals. Dubai’s planner notes the ultimate facility will include multiple concourses and over 400 contact stands, with an automated baggage-handling system and an integrated landside transport hub for roads and future rail.
What Passengers and Residents Can Expect
Dubai’s New Airport intends to provide a world-class experience for travelers. The first phase will consist of a modern passenger terminal with four spacious concourses and more than four hundred aircraft gates. An automated transport system will assist passengers in moving from one part of the airport to another.
The airport has been designed with passengers’ comfort in mind, and the speed and convenience of arrival and departure will be ensured. With advanced baggage handling and people mover systems, one can expect a minimum waiting time. With AI and robotics around, check-in, security, and boarding processes will be much quicker and secure. Dubai’s New Airport also aims to meet the highest standards of sustainability, aiming for the LEED Gold certification.
The project will further improve the lives of people in the vicinity. Jobs, homes, and better transport links will be provided by Dubai’s New Airport, thus aiding the growth of Dubai South as a lively community.
Airlines and Operations
The Dubai International Airport, currently crowded with around 89 million passengers per year, will soon stop being the city’s primary flight hub. According to Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, all flight operations will gradually transition to the newly established Al Maktoum International Airport.
As briefed by the CEO of Dubai airports, Paul Griffiths, this move has the motive to further become the pathway for Dubai to become the biggest global aviation center. Once the newly constructed airport is functional, it will relocate the passenger traffic from DXB and make a prominent shift in the UAE’s air travel.
| First Phase Completion | 2032 |
| Passenger Capacity (Phase 1) | 150 million/year |
| Final Passenger Capacity | 260 million/year |
| Cargo Capacity | 12 million tonnes/year |
Economic Impact and Modern Features
Sheikh Mohammed said the project will massive new development in Dubai South: “demand for housing for a million people will follow” the airport’s completion. This will be the world’s airport, its port, its urban hub, and its new global centre” once the plan is finished. It is a part of a master-planned “city around the airport” that will include housing for up to a million residents, logistics parks, and related businesses.
The location adjacent to Jebel Ali sea port creates a powerful multimodal hub linking air, sea, and road transport. Industry leaders note the project will create thousands of jobs in sectors from construction and aviation to logistics, tourism, and cargo. In sum, the new Al Maktoum International Airport is designed to secure Dubai’s connectivity to global markets and support economic growth for decades to come.
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