Scheduled to open in December 2032, the Al Maktoum International Airport will eventually cover 70 square kilometres (that’s 70 million square metres!), have five runways, two terminals and 548 gates.
It will be five times the size of the current Dubai airport and is expected to handle 150 million passengers annually when it first opens.
This $US35 billion aviation hub, also to be known as Dubai World Central (DWC), will eventually be capable of handling 260 million passengers annually by 2060 – a number unmatched by any airport globally.
Located in Dubai South, DWC has been operating since 2010, handling cargo and limited passenger flights, but when completed is expected to provide work for some 350,000 people.
Mr Ismail Polat, Senior Vice President, Dubai Airports, revealed the plans to an audience of Australasian travel professionals during the “Down Under In Dubai” mega famil hosted by Emirates.
“We’re not just building an airport; we’re reimagining the entire travel experience,” Mr Polat explained.
“It’s a good starting point to indicate our vision and mission. They’re quite straightforward – to be the biggest and best international airport in the world.
“It starts with the guest experience, making sure everything is safe and secure. We have to make sure that the processing of guests is at a level of excellence that has never been seen before and Dubai is quite well known for setting that bar as high as possible.”
The vision extends beyond mere infrastructure, focusing on what is being called the “Dubai way” – combining cutting-edge technology with warm, personalised hospitality.
Technology will be at the heart of the new airport’s experience. Artificial intelligence, biometric scans and automated systems will allow travellers to enjoy a seamless journey from arrival through check-in and customs to boarding.
The airport will utilise a “Total Airport Management” concept, where information from airspace, aircraft and ground operations will be integrated to create unprecedented efficiency.
Mr Polat revealed that Australia was currently number eight in terms of traffic to Dubai but said despite strong growth he thought our market “underserved”.
“I think there is still more that can be utilised between Australia and to Dubai.”
Mr Polat also assured the audience that the operation was being designed with sustainability inherently embedded in its DNA.
“We want to understand how we can operate an airport that has never been operated at that level and how we can rewrite the rules of aviation and airport operation for the future, not just for the day of opening but to cover the generations to come after that.
“We understand that big airports could sometimes be scary, but we want to make sure that we can reach the passenger at every angle, whether it’s digital or whether it’s physical.
“The moment that you decide to travel somewhere, hopefully we’ll be there helping you, creating that confidence and trust, so that your journey from that moment till you reach your destination is seamless.”
