UAE. Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has approved designs for the new passenger terminal at Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International Airport. It will be the world’s largest airport when fully operational.
Set to be built at a cost of AED128 billion (US$34.9 billion), the terminal will ultimately enable the airport to serve a passenger capacity of 260 million and 12 million tonnes of cargo annually.
The airport, located in Jebel Ali, Dubai, will accommodate 400 aircraft gates and feature five parallel runways.
It is expected that the first phase of the project will be ready within ten years, with a capacity to accommodate 150 million passengers annually.
Sheikh Mohammed gave his approval to the plans during a visit to Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects. He reviewed the master plan for the ‘Airport of the Future’, which when fully developed will cover 70sq km.
That will make it approximately five times the size of the existing Dubai International Airport (DXB), which will transfer its operations to Al Maktoum International Airport in phases as the various elements of the project are completed.
Dubai Aviation City Corporation Chairman, Dubai Civil Aviation Authority Chairman and Emirates Airline and Group Chairman and Chief Executive His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum said: “The new airport, which will ultimately be over five times the size of Dubai International, will prepare the ground for the next 40 years of anticipated growth in Dubai’s aviation sector.
“It will respond to the Hub Airline ambitious plans in terms of fleet acquisition and passenger growth. The airport will provide cutting-edge technologies, passenger facilities with unmatched level of service, and state-of-the-art aviation support facilities.
“Al Maktoum International (AMI) is planned in such a way as to represent a leap into the future. It will comprise of five parallel runways with a quadruple independent operation; west and east processing terminals; four satellite concourses with over 400 aircraft contact stands; uninterrupted automated people mover system for passengers; and an integrated landside transport hub for roads, Metro, and city air transport.
“While embracing sustainability, Al Maktoum International will strongly contribute to mitigate environmental emissions, aligning with the UAE’s vision for a sustainably built environment. Its integrated approach is targeted to leverage local resources and climatic conditions achieving exemplary efficiency targets and sustainability goals. AMI aims to achieve a LEED Gold Certification.”
Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths commented: “The growth of Dubai has always been hand in hand with the growth of its aviation infrastructure and today we see another bold step on that journey.
“The announcement of the phase two of Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International Airport’s (DWC) expansion, representing a substantial investment of AED128 billion – marks the start of a huge investment of resources by our many stakeholders in designing and building a state-of-the-art airport that will provide a quick, convenient, and high-quality 21st-century experience for our customers. This further solidifies Dubai’s position as a leading aviation hub on the world stage.
“DXB will continue to serve as the primary hub, meeting the needs of 100 million plus guests over the next few years as phase two of DWC takes shape. We will be actively collaborating with our airline customers, our strategic partners, the Dubai Government and our stakeholders to bring this visionary project to fruition.” ✈
