Dubai World Airport To Be A Global Hub

The covers have been lifted on Al Maktoum International Airport, - Dubai World Airport - which will be five times the size of the current Dubai Airport.

The airport when completed will be able to handle 260 million passengers per year, with five parallel runways and 400 aircraft gates.

In an announcement, Emirates said that "thanks to the visionary leadership of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Al Maktoum International Airport will ensure that Dubai continues to lead the global aviation sector for decades to come."

Dubai World Central (DWC) as it is better known was opened in 2010, as a secondary gateway, initially handing cargo services with some passenger flights added in 2014.

Phase two announced yesterday will see it become Dubai's primary hub for AED 128 billion.

Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports said yesterday:

"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 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.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai, revealed the concepts of the new airport via Twitter (X).

He said: “As we build an entire city around the airport in Dubai South, demand for housing for a million people will follow. It will host the world's leading companies in the logistics and air transport sectors,” His Highness explains. 

“We are building a new project for future generations, ensuring continuous and stable development for our children and their children in turn. Dubai will be the world's airport, its port, its urban hub, and its new global centre.”