On Sunday, April 28, Prime Minister and Vice President of the United Arab Emirates, Muhammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum, announced plans to build the world’s largest airport.
It is set to cost the equivalent of 820 billion Czech koruna, with the new terminals being five times larger than the current Dubai International Airport (DXB), capable of handling up to 260 million passengers annually. In terms of capacity, Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) will thus become the largest airport in the world.
“Today, we have approved proposals for new passenger terminals at Al Maktoum International Airport and initiated the construction of buildings worth 128 billion dirhams as part of the Dubai Aviation Corporation’s strategy,” stated bin Rashid at X.
The new airport is deemed necessary. “When we build an entire city around the airport in southern Dubai, there will be a demand for housing for a million people. It will host leading global companies in logistics and air transport,” said Muhammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum in a statement.
Dubai International Airport (DXB) has been the busiest airport in the world for ten consecutive years. Last year, this transit hub served nearly 87 million passengers. Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths stated that this project will reinforce Dubai’s position as a leading aviation hub. According to him, there is no space at the current airport to add more runways or terminals.
At last year’s Skift Global Forum East, speakers emphasized the need for investments in infrastructure, including the future large airport. “We need to take a bold step and build this megalomaniacal airport,” Griffiths said at the time. The first phase of construction, after which the airport will be able to accommodate 150 million passengers annually, will be completed within ten years.
