Dubai initiated construction on a new terminal at Al Maktoum International Airport on Sunday. The city’s ruler declared it a future record-setter as “the world’s largest airport terminal,” with a projected cost nearing $35 billion.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, ruler of Dubai and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates, confirmed the commencement of the terminal, which will cost approximately AED128 billion ($34.85 billion). He shared the news on the platform X.
The government’s official statement noted that once completed, the airport would manage a capacity of 260 million passengers annually.
Sheikh Mohammed highlighted the project’s ambitious scale, stating it would surpass the current Dubai International Airport five times in size. Dubai International is among the busiest globally, handling up to 120 million passengers annually.
Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, president of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and CEO of Emirates, mentioned that the terminal’s first phase would be operational in about ten years, with an initial capacity of 150 million passengers annually.
Al Maktoum Airport, located on the city’s outskirts, has handled a modest portion of air traffic since its opening in 2010. The plan is for this airport to eventually replace the centrally located Dubai International Airport, where expansion is limited by its urban setting.
