Al Maktoum International airport will be five times the size of Dubai’s current airport and built to stringent sustainability standards. Olivia Palamountain reports
Dubai Ruler, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, has given the green light for the construction of a new airport for the Emirate.
Al Maktoum International airport is set to be built at a cost of AED 128 billion (approximately £28 billion) and poised to become the world’s largest airport upon completion, with a capacity to handle 260 million passengers annually.
The project is part of Dubai Aviation Corporation’s strategy to position Al Maktoum International airport as a global aviation hub.
The airport is set to feature facilities including 400 aircraft gates and five parallel runways, plus advanced aviation technologies employed for the first time in the sector.
The first phase of the project is expected to be completed within a decade, with an initial capacity to accommodate 150 million passengers annually.
Sustainability is a key focus of the project, with the airport aiming to achieve LEED Gold Certification. The integrated approach will leverage local resources and climatic conditions to achieve exemplary efficiency targets and sustainability goals.