Dubai is preparing for the future of global air travel with the development of Al Maktoum International Airport, also known as Dubai World Central (DWC), a next-generation aviation hub expected to complete its phase one construction by 2032.
When phase one is complete, the new airport will be able to handle 150 million passengers annually, a number that will grow to 260 million passengers and 12 million tonnes of cargo per year when the full project is finished.
More than just an airport, DWC is designed to be a global aviation city, five times the size of Dubai International Airport, and will eventually replace it entirely in a single, seamless transition. To read more about the ambitious infrastructure planned for DWC, see Connector's story HERE.
The announcement, made at the Airport Show 2025 by His Excellency Khalifa Al Zaffin, Executive Chairman of Dubai Aviation City Corporation, confirmed that the first phase will include a major new terminal and four concourses, with key contracts for systems like the Automated People Mover and Baggage Handling System set to be awarded later this year.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, previously described the development as a legacy project for future generations, with 400 aircraft gates, five parallel runways, and an entire city taking shape around it in Dubai South, expected to house over a million people.