Dubai moves ahead with new passenger terminal plan at DWC

Dubai is moving ahead with the construction of a new passenger terminal at Al Maktoum International Airport, having paused the project for several years, Bloomberg reports.

The emirate’s ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, greenlit the terminal designs on Sunday, with an estimated cost of 128 billion dirhams ($34.8 billion), as per a statement from the Dubai government.

The airport, renowned for hosting the biennial Dubai Air Show, has established itself as a key hub for cargo planes and private jets.

Paul Griffiths, the CEO of Dubai Airports, revealed earlier this year that the plan includes enticing more airlines to transition their operations to the new terminal in the coming years, according to Bloomberg.

Dubai World Central (DWC), the alternate name for the airport, is slated to be five times larger than the current Dubai International Airport. The Dubai Media Office mentioned in a post on X that all operations at Dubai International Airport will eventually shift to DWC.

Moreover, as one of the world’s busiest long-haul hubs, Dubai has experienced a surge in traffic surpassing pre-pandemic levels, driven by an influx of visitors to the city and a rebound in long-haul connecting flights. Emirates, the city’s flagship carrier, reported record half-year profits through September 2023 and has advocated for DWC’s expansion to accommodate its growth plans and expanding fleet.

Notably, work on Dubai’s Al Maktoum airport was halted in 2019 amidst economic challenges in the Gulf region, as reported by Bloomberg. The airport is designed to become one of the world’s largest, boasting an annual capacity of over 260 million passengers, according to its operator.