Work on the Al Maktoum International Airport expansion is advancing on schedule, with Phase 1 of the project still targeted for operations in 2032, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai announced on X.
More than 10 million work hours have been logged over the past 15 months, according to the post. Contracts currently under execution are valued at AED13 billion, and the Dubai Crown Prince said further strategic contracts exceeding AED55 billion are set to be awarded in the coming months.
The airport is being developed to handle more than 250 million passengers annually, a scale that would make it one of the largest aviation hubs in the world and a central pillar of Dubai’s long-term economic ambitions.
The announcement signals that one of Dubai’s most consequential infrastructure undertakings remains on its original timeline despite the scale of the work involved.
“Al Maktoum International Airport is one of the most significant strategic projects shaping Dubai’s economic future. It embodies our leadership’s long-term vision of investing in world-class infrastructure capable of accommodating the rapid growth in travel, trade, and logistics. The project’s transition into a large-scale construction phase, with contracts valued at AED13 billion currently under execution and preparations underway to award strategic projects worth more than AED55 billion during the next phase, reflects the substantial progress achieved and the strong momentum driving the development,” Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum said the Al Maktoum International Airport added.
“Upon completion, Al Maktoum International Airport will serve as a key pillar in advancing the objectives of the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, and strengthening Dubai’s position as a leading global hub for trade, tourism, logistics, and international connectivity. The project will further enhance the emirate’s future readiness and reinforce the aviation sector’s contribution to sustainable economic growth for decades to come,” he further explained.
Engineer Suzanne Al Anani, CEO of Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects, said more than 17,000 concrete piles have been installed, excavation works have exceeded 45 million cubic metres, and total work hours surpass 10 million over the past 15 months. The current on-site workforce of around 9,000 is expected to scale to approximately 120,000 at peak construction capacity.
The packages earmarked for award this year include substructure and superstructure works for the Western Passenger Terminal, four aircraft concourse buildings, an Automated People Mover system, and a Baggage Handling System.
“The award of façade and roofing packages is also planned during the course of this year, reflecting the continued progress of the project and the steady advancement of its delivery milestones in line with the approved timeline,” she added.
At full build-out, Al Maktoum International Airport is designed to handle more than 260 million passengers annually and 12 million tonnes of air cargo, making it the world’s largest aviation hub. The facility will feature five parallel runways, two passenger terminals, seven concourses, and more than 430 aircraft stands, alongside multimodal connections to rail and road networks.
“This project represents a key pillar of the Dubai Government’s strategy to strengthen financial sustainability through the development of sovereign assets capable of generating long-term value and attracting high-quality regional and international investments. The progress achieved also reflects the Government of Dubai’s commitment to delivering major projects in accordance with the highest standards of governance and financial discipline, ensuring a balance between ambitious development objectives and efficient resource allocation. This, in turn, reinforces investor and international partner confidence in the resilience of Dubai’s economy and its ability to navigate global transformations with confidence and agility,” Abdulrahman Saleh Al Saleh, Director-General of Dubai Finance said.
“Al Maktoum International Airport is far more than an expansion of aviation infrastructure; it is a fully integrated global platform that will redefine the future of travel and logistics. The airport is being designed to deliver a seamless, intelligent, and customer-centric experience powered by advanced technologies, integrated automation, operational intelligence, and seamless connectivity across airport systems and transport networks. At the same time, we are working to ensure a smooth and carefully managed transition of operations from Dubai International Airport to the new airport, safeguarding the world-class service standards for which Dubai is renowned, while enhancing our capacity to accommodate sustained growth with exceptional efficiency, agility, and resilience,” Khalifa Al Zaffin, Executive Chairman of Dubai Aviation City Corporation added.
Separately, Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects is running a parallel AED16 billion programme to upgrade existing infrastructure at both Dubai International Airport and Dubai World Central. Contracts worth more than AED7.5 billion have already been awarded under that programme, covering terminal access, road upgrades, airfield works, and expanded remote boarding facilities. Works at Dubai World Central include terminal expansion to accommodate flydubai’s planned introduction of wide-body Boeing 787 aircraft.
Abdulrahman Saleh Al Saleh, Director-General of Dubai Finance, said the project represents “a key pillar of the Dubai Government’s strategy to strengthen financial sustainability through the development of sovereign assets capable of generating long-term value and attracting high-quality regional and international investments.”
