Dubai South, a planned city that is expected to house 1 million residents, is undergoing massive expansion plans for its Al Maktoum International Airport. The emirate aims to build the world’s largest airport with a $35 billion budget and a passenger capacity of 260 million. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai, emphasized the importance of ensuring continuous development for future generations by making Dubai the world’s airport, port, urban hub, and new global center.
The construction of the expanded airport is estimated to cost AED 128 billion over the next decade. The new facility will feature five parallel runways and 400 aircraft gates, consolidating all international flights that currently operate out of Dubai International Airport. The airport serves as the focal point of Dubai South’s economic zone, with plans to provide housing for 1 million residents and create 500,000 jobs across a 55-square-mile area. These expansion plans coincide with the recovery of air travel in Dubai to pre-pandemic levels, with an estimated 17.15 million international visitors in 2023.