
Al Maktoum International Airport, also known as Dubai World Central, is an airport in Jebel Ali, Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates. The airport opened in 2010 for cargo flights and in 2013 for passenger flights. The project was originally expected to be fully operational by 2017, but the financial crisis in 2008 pushed the completion date to 2027. The airport is currently undergoing a massive expansion, with a new $34.8 billion passenger terminal being constructed. When completed, the airport is expected to be the largest in the world, with a capacity of up to 260 million passengers per year. The first phase of the expansion is expected to be completed within ten years, with the airport accommodating 150 million passengers annually.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Original Expected Completion Date | 2017 |
| Current Expected Completion Date | 2032 or 2035 |
| Location | Jebel Ali, Dubai, United Arab Emirates |
| Airport Size | 36,000 acres or 65 sq km |
| Distance from Dubai City Centre | 37-40 km |
| Project Cost | 34.8 billion or $82 billion |
| Annual Capacity | 12 million tonnes of cargo and 160-260 million passengers |
| Number of Runways | 5 |
| Number of Aircraft Gates | 400 |
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What You'll Learn
- The airport will be completed in 2032, with a projected investment of over $34.8 billion
- When finished, it will be the largest airport in the world, with a capacity of 260 million passengers?
- The airport will cover a land area of 65 sq km, lying within 140 sq km of the Dubai South site
- The project was originally expected to be fully operational by 2017 but was postponed due to the financial crisis
- The design of the building is inspired by the aerodynamic lines of an aircraft wing

The airport will be completed in 2032, with a projected investment of over $34.8 billion
Al Maktoum International Airport, also known as Dubai World Central, is an airport in Jebel Ali, Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates. The airport opened on 27 June 2010 with one runway and only cargo flights.
The airport is set to undergo a major expansion, with construction already underway. The new expansion is projected to cost $34.8 billion and will be completed in 2032. The project represents a massive expansion of the existing airport, which is located over 20 miles southwest of Dubai.
The new airport will be built over 70 square kilometres and will feature cutting-edge technology to maximise efficiency. It will have five parallel runways and 400 aircraft gates. The airport will be able to handle 12 million tonnes of cargo per year and will have a capacity of 160-260 million passengers, making it the largest airport in the world.
The expansion will include the construction of a new passenger terminal, which will be the largest in the world at roughly five times the size of the existing Dubai International Airport. The airport will become a major hub, surpassing Dubai International Airport and further establishing Dubai's prominence in global aviation.
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When finished, it will be the largest airport in the world, with a capacity of 260 million passengers
Al Maktoum International Airport, also known as Dubai World Central, is an airport in Jebel Ali, Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates. It opened in 2010 with one runway and cargo flights, receiving its first flight on 20 June 2010.
The airport is set to undergo a major expansion with the construction of a new passenger terminal. The project represents a significant expansion of the existing airport, which is located over 20 miles southwest of Dubai. When finished, it will be the largest airport in the world, with a capacity of 260 million passengers per year, and will cover an area of 36,000 acres or 65 square kilometres.
The new airport will have five parallel runways and 400 aircraft gates, as well as cutting-edge technology to maximise efficiency. It will also include transport modes, logistics, and value-added services such as manufacturing and assembly in a single free economic zone. The project is estimated to cost $34.8 billion and is expected to be completed by 2032, with the first phase completed within ten years.
The expansion of Al Maktoum International Airport is part of Dubai's economic agenda to attract further investment in tourism, with the existing Dubai International Airport limited by its options for expansion due to nearby developments. The new airport will establish Dubai's prominence in global aviation and is anticipated to handle 12 million tonnes of cargo per year.
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The airport will cover a land area of 65 sq km, lying within 140 sq km of the Dubai South site
Al Maktoum International Airport, also known as Dubai World Central, is located in Jebel Ali, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The airport opened on 27 June 2010 with one runway and only cargo flights. It is the main part of Dubai South, a planned residential, commercial, and logistics complex.
The airport will include cutting-edge technology to maximise efficiency. It is anticipated that the facility will handle 12 million tonnes of cargo per year and between 160 million and 260 million passengers. It is expected to be the largest airport in the world by physical size, though not by passenger metrics.
The project represents a massive expansion of the existing Al Maktoum Airport, with a current cost of $34.8 billion, making it the world's most expensive airport. The first phase of the new airport is expected to be completed within ten years, with the entire project not expected to be fully operational until 2027.
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The project was originally expected to be fully operational by 2017 but was postponed due to the financial crisis
The Al Maktoum International Airport project, also known as Dubai World Central, was originally expected to be fully operational by 2017. However, due to the financial crisis in 2008, the completion date for the complex was pushed back by a decade to 2027.
The airport, located in Jebel Ali, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, is a significant undertaking that aims to create a massive "airport city" over five times the size of the existing Dubai International Airport (DXB). With a projected cost of $34.8 billion, it is already the world's most expensive airport. The new Dubai airport will be a sprawling complex, covering 65 to 70 square kilometres and featuring cutting-edge technology to maximise efficiency.
The expansion of the airport is being carried out in multiple phases. The first phase, completed in early 2017, included a landside facility and 12 units catering to small and medium enterprises in aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul. The second phase, which began in March 2017, was scheduled to be finished by the end of that year. The third phase started in July 2017 and was planned to be completed by mid-2018.
The project has continued to evolve, with Phase Two of the expansion announced in April 2024. This phase envisions an even larger airport with five runways and a capacity of 150 million passengers annually within the next decade. The ultimate capacity is expected to reach 260 million passengers per year, with 12 million tonnes of cargo, making it the world's largest hub in terms of capacity.
The completion of Al Maktoum International Airport is now anticipated to occur no earlier than 2032, with some sources even suggesting 2035 as the completion date. Once finished, the airport will be a major global aviation hub, surpassing Dubai International Airport and solidifying Dubai's position in the aviation industry.
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The design of the building is inspired by the aerodynamic lines of an aircraft wing
Al Maktoum International Airport, also known as Dubai World Central, is an airport in Jebel Ali, Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates. The airport opened in 2010 with one runway and cargo flights, and passenger flights began in 2013. The project was originally expected to be fully operational by 2017, but the financial crisis of 2008 delayed its completion until at least 2027. The airport is currently undergoing a significant expansion, with a new passenger terminal expected to be completed within ten years. When finished, the airport will be the largest in the world, with a capacity of 260 million passengers per year.
London-based firm Leslie Jones Architecture is responsible for the design of the new Dubai airport. The firm has extensive experience in the sector, having designed airports worldwide, including in Doha, Hong Kong, and London Heathrow Terminal 5. The new airport will be a futuristic addition to Dubai's skyline, featuring an undulating white canopy with green oases and palm trees beneath.
The expansion of Al Maktoum International Airport is not just about the airport itself but also about the development of an "entire city" around it. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai, has tweeted about the project, stating that it will lead to employment and housing for up to one million people. The airport city will cover a massive land area of nearly 65 square kilometres, lying within the 140 square kilometres of the Dubai South site.
When fully completed, the airport will offer unprecedented connectivity to Dubai, with three major road arteries serving the Emirate of Dubai and the other Emirates of the UAE: the Sheikh Zayed Road, the Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Road, and the Emirates Road. Additionally, the extension of the metro line and the Etihad Rail line to the airport will make Al Maktoum International a huge multimodal transportation hub.
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Frequently asked questions
Al Maktoum International Airport is expected to be fully operational by 2032, with some sources stating it won't be completed before 2035.
When completed, Al Maktoum International Airport is expected to be the largest airport in the world, with a capacity of 260 million passengers per year and 12 million tonnes of cargo.
The projected investment for the construction of Al Maktoum Airport is $34.8 billion, although some sources state the cost will be up to $35 billion or even $82 billion.











































