Al Maktoum Airport Expansion Dubai: Capacity, Cost, Timeline & Latest Updates
The Al Maktoum Airport expansion is a huge undertaking that’s transforming Dubai’s aviation industry. Al Maktoum International Airport, also called Dubai World Central (DWC), is being built as a future global aviation hub that will be able to handle passenger numbers much greater than what can be handled at Dubai International Airport (DXB).
The expansion has been authorised with an investment of AED 128 billion, and the completed airport will be able to serve over 260 million passengers and 12 million tonnes of cargo per year. The first major phase is expected to be operational in 2032 and will have a capacity of approximately 150 million passengers a year.
The project, which is expected to support Dubai’s aviation growth for decades to come, will feature 5 runways, over 400 aircraft stands, advanced transport technology and integrated transport connections.
What Is the Al Maktoum Airport Expansion?
Dubai South is home to the Al Maktoum International Airport, which means the airport is near Jebel Ali. Passenger operations started in the airport in 2013, and cargo operations began in 2010.
DWC serves both scheduled and seasonal passenger air services, cargo, general aviation and charter services today. It already has a smaller capacity passenger terminal than what the airport had planned for in the new expansion.
The ongoing expansion is actually a metamorphosis of DWC in to a a lot larger airport. Rather than just adding a terminal, or a couple of gates, Dubai is designing and building a mega-scale aviation complex comprising a number of new passenger terminals, concourses, runways, aircraft stands, baggage and transport infrastructure.
In April 2024, the Dubai Government gave approval to Phase Two, which will be expanded to be able to serve 150 million passengers a year over the coming decade and will eventually reach 260 million passengers a year.
Why Is Dubai Expanding Al Maktoum Airport?
The aviation industry in Dubai has grown immensely over the last few decades. The Dubai International Airport (DXB) has emerged as one of the world’s most significant international airports, however there are constraints on the long term growth of airports due to their location and their current infrastructure.
The total volume of passengers at DXB is a record 95.2 million for 2025.
The extension to Al Maktoum Airport will aim to offer the necessary facilities to support its future development and to build an even larger aviation and logistics centre in Dubai South.
The project is also a part of the broader Dubai South development, which is anticipated to have a significant impact on the surrounding businesses, logistics services, residential areas, hotels and other sectors.
Al Maktoum Airport Expansion Cost
One of the most frequently searched questions about the project is how much the expansion will cost.
The authorized capital expenditure on the new passenger terminal and related expansion comes in at AED 128bn (US$35bn). This project was announced by Dubai in 2024 as part of its long-term aviation strategy.
It should be noted that this is not the operating cost of the current airport, but the cost of the major expansion work.
The investment will fund a large variety of infrastructure such as passenger terminals, aircraft stands, concourse, runways, baggage systems, automated passenger transport and its supporting infrastructure at the airport.
What Will the AED 128 Billion Expansion Include?
The design for the expansion of the airport will not just be a bigger terminal but will be an integrated aviation ecosystem.
The development features new aircraft stands and automated transportation systems, as well as new aircraft concourses and runways that will process passengers. The airport will also feature a fully integrated landside transportation hub which will link roads, Dubai Metro and other modes of transport.
The project is also environmentally conscious and utilizes cutting-edge technology, with Dubai striving for modern infrastructure that is energy efficient and has obtained LEED certification for the project (LEED Gold).
Aslo Check: Dubai Airport Free Zone Metro Station 1
Al Maktoum Airport Expansion Capacity
One of the most amazing features of the project is the capacity.
The first big phase will be able to hold some 150 million passengers per year. When fully completed it is expected that the ultimate annual passenger capacity will be over 260 million per year.
Al Maktoum Airport Capacity at a Glance
| Development Stage | Planned Capacity |
| Existing DWC passenger capacity | Up to 26 million annually |
| First major expansion phase | 150 million annually |
| Ultimate planned capacity | 260+ million annually |
| Ultimate cargo capacity | 12 million tonnes annually |
The passenger terminal at the airport was expanded from the previous 7 million passengers a year to 26 million passengers a year. The new development will transform the airport’s capacity to a whole new level.
How Big Will Al Maktoum Airport Be?
The size of the finished airport is tremendous.
With Dubai’s official plans, the airport will span about 70 square kilometres, and will eventually process more than 260 million passengers and 12 million tonnes of goods per year.
The finished airport will have five parallel runways, four of which will be able to operate independently. It will also feature over 400 aircraft contact stands, several aircraft passenger processing facilities and satellite concourses.
The scale aims to transform Al Maktoum International to become one of the world’s largest airports.
Al Maktoum Airport Expansion Timeline
The project is a phased delivery, rather than a single, one-off operation.
2024: Expansion Approved
The expansion of the port, valued at AED 128 billion, was given the green light by Dubai in April 2024 through the approval of the designs and construction of the new passenger terminal.
First phase was to be about 10 years in duration and was to be expanded to accommodate approximately 150 million passengers per year.
2025: Planning and Development Continue
In 2025, the project progressed with the implementation of its development and construction packages, with Dubai remaining busy in preparing the infrastructure for the first major phase of the project.
2026: Construction Progress
In June 2026, Dubai announced progress in various aspects of the project, such as enabling works, runway infrastructure, and the foundation of the passenger terminals and gates.
2032: First Major Phase Target
The first phase of the massive Al Maktoum International Airport is expected to open in 2032. In June 2026, the Dubai Government announced that the project had been given the green light and was to be continued as planned.
Beyond 2032
The development will be continued after the first phase and the airport will be expanded to its final capacity of over 260 million passengers and 12 million tonnes of cargo per year.
Latest Al Maktoum Airport Expansion Updates in 2026
In June 2026, the project got the latest official update, which claimed it’s still on track for its planned operational launch by the year 2032.
The various development packages have already advanced, such as enabling works, runway infrastructure and preliminary structural foundations for the passenger terminals and gates.
Work also is underway on the Western Passenger Terminal, the aircraft concourses and the Automated People Mover system and Baggage Handling System at the airport.
Dubai has just updated that the development programme includes structural frameworks which span around 1.5 million square metres. In addition to the power generation and district cooling facilities, work is also being done on the infrastructure in the southern airfield area.
However, the government has announced that other façade and roofing packages will come as the project continues with its next phases.
How Many Runways Will Al Maktoum Airport Have?
At the future Al Maktoum International Airport, there will be five parallel runways.
Four of these runways are designed to be independent of each other, thus giving the airport the capacity to handle a very high number of aircraft movements.
To accommodate hundreds of millions of passengers annually, this runway configuration is a key element in the airport’s performance.
How Many Gates Will Al Maktoum Airport Have?
The airport will have over 400 contact stands for aircraft.
The original announcement for Dubai also referred to a design which featured west and east passenger-processing terminals and four satellite concourses.
With the large number of aircraft stands, the airport can serve a lot more planes at a one time compared to the existing DWC operation.
What Technology Will Al Maktoum Airport Use?
Technological innovations are expected to be a key aspect of the new airport.
The project centers on cutting-edge technologies for aircraft passenger processing that would aim to improve and speed up the processing of passengers. The use of automated systems will be integral in various aspects like baggage handling and airport transportation within the facility.
An Automated People Mover is one of the key elements, which will assist in moving people throughout this massive airport complex.
The airport will also feature a hub for integration between roads, Dubai Metro and other transportation systems in the city.
Al Maktoum Airport vs Dubai International Airport
The two big airports in Dubai are set to undergo a transformation in their roles over time with the expansion.
| Feature | Al Maktoum International | Dubai International |
| Airport code | DWC | DXB |
| Location | Dubai South | Dubai |
| Long-term role | Future major aviation hub | Existing global hub |
| Planned ultimate capacity | 260+ million passengers | Existing major hub |
| Planned runways | 5 | Existing runway system |
| Long-term development | Major expansion | Continued operation during transition |
This is Dubai’s primary international airport today, as it is called DXB. It welcomed an all-time high of 95.2 million visitors in 2025. Meanwhile, DWC is being built to become the long-term flying hub of Dubai.
Will Al Maktoum Airport Replace Dubai International Airport?
Dubai is set to move many activities from Dubai International Airport to Al Maktoum International in the long-term.
In the announcement, all operations at Dubai International will be shifted to Al Maktoum International in the near future.
But travellers should not anticipate that DXB will be gone by the time the first DWC expansion is completed in 2032. The change is anticipated to occur gradually as the new airport’s facilities and capacity are gradually phased in.
This is because DXB will continue to be very significant in the development and transition process.
Why Is Dubai Moving Toward Al Maktoum Airport?
Several reasons for Dubai’s long term strategy.
Firstly, there is a continued increase in passenger demand. Especially so, as DXB’s traffic for 2025 is its highest ever, highlighting the need to have adequate airport capacity.
Secondly, Al Maktoum Airport has much more room for long-term development. Dubai can create a large airport and surrounding city instead of trying to expand an old airport amidst an existing urban sprawl.
Thirdly, the project aligns with Dubai’s aspirations in the aviation, tourism, logistics and international business sectors.
Dubai Government has termed the airport as a key element of Dubai’s economic plan which is outlined under Dubai Economic Agenda D33.
How Will the Expansion Affect Dubai?
The expansion of Al Maktoum Airport will reverberate much more than just in the aviation industry.
Impact on Tourism
The larger airport will provide Dubai with the capacity to receive more international visitors in the future. Additional capacity at the airport can facilitate expansion of routes, airline expansion and tourism development.
Impact on Jobs
It is likely to generate a huge employment opportunities in aviation, logistics, construction, hospitality, retail and associated sectors for the airport and surrounding Dubai South development.
The Dubai government has already stated the aerotropolis that surrounds the airport can accommodate the housing and jobs of more than one million people in the future.
Impact on Dubai South
It is expected that Dubai South will play an increasingly significant role in the expansion of the airport.
The expansion of the airport and its enhanced connectivity will have positive impacts on new businesses, logistics facilities, hotels, residential developments, and commercial projects.
How Will Travelers Reach Al Maktoum Airport?
Accessibility will be a key element of the development of the airport.
The master plan features a seamless landside transport hub for the airport to roads, Dubai Metro and city air transport.
The airport is located in Dubai South, which is connected to Dubai’s main road network by the free Dubai Metro Red Line.
As passenger numbers grow, public transport will have to be given more importance, as an airport with hundreds of millions of passengers cannot rely solely on the use of private transport.
What Will Happen to DXB After the Expansion?
The Dubai International Airport (DXB) is expected to be a key player as Al Maktoum International is built.
This is a long-term goal, and will be a gradual transition rather than a sudden one, to major aviation operations moving to DWC.
The crux for travelers is that DXB is still the primary international airport in Dubai today, and DWC is the official long-term aviation plan of Dubai. The two airports are now operated by Dubai Airports.
Timetables and plans for future terminal movements should be reviewed nearer to the transition as they may be subject to change as the work proceeds.
Al Maktoum Airport Expansion: Key Facts
| Detail | Information |
| Airport | Al Maktoum International Airport |
| Airport code | DWC |
| Location | Dubai South |
| Expansion investment | AED 128 billion |
| First major phase | Targeted for 2032 |
| First-phase capacity | 150 million passengers annually |
| Ultimate capacity | 260+ million passengers annually |
| Ultimate cargo capacity | 12 million tonnes annually |
| Planned runways | 5 |
| Aircraft stands | 400+ |
| Planned transport | Roads, Metro and city air transport |
| Current status in 2026 | Construction and major project packages progressing |
The core capacity, investment and infrastructure are based on Project information from Dubai Government and Dubai Airports.
Final Thoughts
The Dubai Airport expansion project at Al Maktoum is a much more significant project than a new terminal. It’s a transformational project for Dubai’s aviation infrastructure that will shape the emirate’s economic future.
DWC is being built and is expected to reach a peak capacity of over 400 aircraft, five runways and an ultimate capacity of more than 260 million passengers—a scale that will support the aviation industry in Dubai for decades to come.
Major project packages are on-going with construction expected to continue through 2026; the first phase is still on track for 2032.
The biggest change for travellers will be a gradual one. Today, DXB is the primary airport, but with the growth of Al Maktoum International, Dubai is looking to move its aviation hub from Dubai to Dubai South.
FAQs About Al Maktoum Airport Expansion
When will Al Maktoum Airport expansion be completed?
The initial phase of expansion is expected to be in operation by 2032. The whole airport will be built incrementally, approaching full capacity.
How much does the Al Maktoum Airport expansion cost?
The approved investment in the extension is AED 128 billion, which is equivalent to about US$35 billion.
How many passengers will Al Maktoum Airport handle?
The initial design capacity will be approximately 150 million passengers/year and the final design capacity is greater than 260 million/year.
Will Al Maktoum Airport replace DXB?
Yes, Dubai’s long-term vision is to move the bulk of its airport business from DXB to DWC. The changeover will happen over time, however, as the new airport is being built.
Where is Al Maktoum International Airport located?
Dubai South is situated in the extreme south of Dubai with Al Maktoum International Airport.
How many runways will Al Maktoum Airport have?
The final airport will feature 5 parallel runways, 4 of which will be designed to operate independently.
Is Al Maktoum Airport open now?
Yes. DWC is already an operating airport, handling passenger, cargo, charter and general aviation services. It will be a much larger international centre when it is expanded in the current development.
What is the difference between DWC and DXB?
The airport code for Al Maktoum International Airport is DWC and that of Dubai International Airport is DXB. Currently Dubai’s main international passenger airport is DXB and DWC is already under construction as Dubai’s future aviation hub.
Will Al Maktoum Airport become the world’s largest airport?
Yes, by passenger planned capacity. The finished airport will be among the world’s largest airport complex and will be able to accommodate over 260 million passengers per year.
