Dubai is moving into a more intensive stage of the Al Maktoum International Airport expansion, with billions of dirhams in new construction packages expected to be awarded before the end of 2026. The project is designed to prepare the emirate for continued growth in international passenger traffic as Dubai International Airport approaches the practical limits of its existing infrastructure.
Dubai Airports has already awarded around Dh13 billion worth of contracts linked to the new terminal development this year. A further Dh55 billion ($14.9 billion) in contracts is expected to be awarded by the end of 2026, according to Dubai Airports chief executive Paul Griffiths, as reported by The National on August 26.
The figures underline how quickly Al Maktoum International Airport, also known as Dubai World Central or DWC, is moving from long-term planning into large-scale construction. The airport is expected to become a central pillar of Dubai’s future transport infrastructure and eventually take over the role of the emirate’s primary global aviation hub.
Construction Moves Ahead Ahead of the 2032 Opening
Work at the airport site is already progressing on a substantial scale. Griffiths said around 10 million working hours have been committed to the development over the past 15 months. Approximately 17,000 piles have been installed, while around 45 million cubic metres of earth have been moved as contractors prepare the site for the next stages of construction.
Around 9,000 people are currently working on the development. At the busiest stage of construction, the workforce could eventually rise to about 120,000, illustrating the size and complexity of a project intended to reshape Dubai’s aviation network.
The first major phase remains scheduled to open in 2032. Once operational, it is expected to give the new terminal capacity for about 150 million passengers annually. Longer-term plans are significantly larger: the completed Al Maktoum International Airport is designed to accommodate as many as 260 million passengers and handle approximately 12 million tonnes of cargo every year.
The timing is closely connected with capacity constraints at Dubai International Airport. DXB has developed into one of the world’s most important international aviation hubs, but physical limitations restrict how much further it can expand. Dubai therefore needs additional airport capacity if it wants aviation infrastructure to keep pace with population growth, tourism, trade and its wider economic ambitions.
Despite regional instability and pressure on aviation across the Gulf, Dubai Airports says construction at DWC has continued without a slowdown. The operator is also working with suppliers internationally as the aviation and construction industries continue to face supply-chain challenges.
A New Airport Could Dramatically Expand Dubai’s Network
Al Maktoum International is being planned not simply as a larger replacement for DXB, but as an airport capable of serving a substantially broader international route network.
One factor supporting that strategy is the development of longer-range narrow-body aircraft. New-generation jets such as the Airbus A321XLR can operate routes that previously required larger wide-body aircraft, potentially allowing airlines to serve destinations where passenger demand may not justify deploying a high-capacity jet.
Griffiths said this shift could significantly increase the number of cities connected directly with Dubai. DWC could eventually offer non-stop links to as many as 600 cities, particularly opening opportunities for smaller markets across Europe, Africa and the Far East.
That would give airlines greater flexibility in designing their networks. Instead of concentrating passengers almost exclusively on major global cities, carriers could potentially operate economically viable direct services to a larger number of secondary destinations.
The airport’s internal transport system is being designed on a similarly large scale. Dubai Aviation City Corporation has awarded a contract for an automated people mover covering about 50 kilometres and connecting nine stations during the first development phase. The system is planned to include 165 automated vehicles and has been described by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries as the world’s largest airport people mover project.
Dubai Continues Investing in DXB During the Transition
The development of DWC does not mean investment at Dubai International will stop immediately. DXB is expected to remain the emirate’s main passenger gateway for several more years, making upgrades essential while the new airport is being built.
Dubai Airports is continuing to improve passenger facilities and terminal infrastructure at DXB, including refurbishment projects and expanded commercial areas. The strategy is aimed at maintaining capacity and service quality during the transition period rather than allowing the existing airport to stagnate while resources shift toward DWC.
The scale of the planned Dh55 billion contract awards also demonstrates that Dubai considers aviation infrastructure a long-term economic priority. Airports support far more than passenger travel: they are closely connected with tourism, logistics, international trade, real estate development and the emirate’s position as a regional headquarters for multinational companies.
By targeting a first-phase opening in 2032 and an eventual capacity of 260 million passengers a year, Dubai is preparing for aviation demand far beyond today’s traffic levels. If the development proceeds according to schedule, Al Maktoum International will not simply increase airport capacity. It could fundamentally change the geography of Dubai’s growth, reinforcing Dubai South as a major centre for aviation, logistics, business and investment.