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February 9, 2026

Investment Tips / Manchester

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12 million tonnes of cargo, 260 million annual passengers, 70 square kilometers and five parallel runways. That’s what Dubai is investing $35 billion in. It’s already home to the world’s second busiest airport, Dubai International (DXB), yet plans are already underway to create the largest airport in history. 

DXB handled 12 million passengers in 2000, by 2013 this rose to 66 million, and up to 92.3 million in 2024. When Terminal 3 opened in 2008, it became the world’s largest building by floorplace. The city is far outpacing their facilities, but they’re already ahead on plans to upgrade Al Maktoum International. 

With an unemployment rate of only 2.13%, and a growing population now over 10.8 million, Dubai is widely known as the fastest growing city in the world. Exceptional safety, an abundance of career opportunities, and pretty much zero taxes are just some of the reasons for its increasing popularity. 18.72 million people visited the city in 2024, spending $179.8 billion during their visits. Two thirds of the world’s population live within an eight hour flight of Dubai.

A $100 billion masterplan for the city proves its aim to become the high-end destination. And just one of those upgrades is the Airport, with a 10-year long plan already under construction. It’ll upgrade Al Maktoum to a level able to replace DXB as the default airport for the city.

Al Maktoum sits in Dubai South; it opened in 2010 originally with cargo in mind, designed to handle 12 million tonnes of goods annually, making it the world’s largest airport in terms of freight capacity. The new plans, however, make it five times the size of the current site.

New Airport Plans

New plans, totalling around $35 million, will make this the world’s largest, and most expensive, airport in history. There will be 5 runways, each 4.5km long and 1.5km apart, meaning that up to 4 planes will be able to land or take off at any one time. Currently other airports, such as Hartsfield Jackson, operate 5 or more runways, but can only use 2 or 3 at once due to spacing constraints. A well-planned and thought-out scheme means Al Maktoum International will allow 200 take offs or landings every hour at max capacity, outperforming London’s entire city airport system. 

Runways will be fitted with some of the most advanced aviation technology the world has ever seen. The UAE has really made a name for itself in the aviation industry in recent years, adding over $53 million to its GDP. Rapid exits, double taxiways and large ground service equipment roads will be implemented for safety and operational efficiency. 

The airport will focus on efficient travel, with new systems and technology making passing through the airport quick, easy, and hassle-free. An ‘underground people mover’, essentially an automated metro inside the airport, will allow convenient travel through the 70 square kilometer site with 14 stations.

Passengers will be able to drop off baggage days before their flight, which will then be dropped to an underground system of conveyor belts and automated systems, and there’s even talks of baggage being delivered right back to you after your flight. The system should be able to handle up to 50,000 bags an hour – to put that into perspective, DBX’s current system is the largest in the world, and maxes out at 16,000 bags an hour.  

Premium travellers will be able to make use of brand-new technology that scans their face without needing them to stop at all – no scanning boarding passes, no checking passports. Currently, this system can handle up to ten passengers in motion at once, and takes roughly 14 seconds.

Aeroptropolis

The Emirate’s plans don’t stop at just an airport. As the upgraded airport will provide new jobs for hundreds of thousands of people, there are also plans for an entire new city in the south of Dubai – Dubai World International. 

It’ll be split into 8 themed districts: Commercial, Golf, Business, Logistics, Residential, Aviation, Al Maktoum International Airport, and Expo City. 

The plan is for the vast majority of airport workers to live there. New homes, totalling one million, will include a range from worker accommodation to luxury villas. Other incentives will include housing allowances and fast-tracked visas, and most importantly slashed commute times.

Efficient transport is a key aspect of the larger plans, Etihad Rail is soon to launch and plans to connect the airport to the UAE’s government-backed rail network. Interlinking all 7 Emirate’s of the country, it’ll improve access to Dubai from major nearby cities like Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. It’ll link, for the very first time, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and the UAE by rail. 

Jebel Ali Port, which lies around 20 miles from Al Maktoum, is the world’s largest manmade harbour and the busiest in the Middle East. Transporting goods via sea, sky, and rail, will be upgraded to a level we’ve never seen before, due to the new rail system and airport.

Construction Roadmap

Plans were officially signed off in April 2024 by Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the current leader of Dubai. The first phase, which includes a $35 billion investment, features the West Terminal building – the first new runways are already being laid out. The baggage system and automated people mover are already in planning, along with vital energy centres, fire and rescue stations, and maintenance yards. 

Phase 1 should complete around 2032, and by then will be able to cater to 130 million passengers a year – 1.5x the current limit of DBX. A second concourse, identical and parallel to the first, will then begin construction. The people mover and baggage system will be upgraded accordingly, upping capacity to 150 million a year. 

The final phase will include completing the 14-station underground network and connecting it directly to Dubai’s transport system. At full completion, which will take until the 2050’s, the masterplan will hold 260 million passengers a year, 400 contact gates, and more than 15 million tonnes of cargo. 

Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, says:

“It will be more than sufficient to absorb all of Dubai’s aviation demands and pressure handling every single one of the emirate’s commercial flights for decades to come.”

Final Thoughts

Dubai’s airport expansion is far more than an aviation project – it’s a statement of long-term intent. By investing tens of billions into transport, logistics and surrounding infrastructure, the city is reinforcing its position as a global hub for people, trade and capital. Al Maktoum International isn’t just designed to handle demand; it’s built to future-proof Dubai’s growth for decades to come.

What’s particularly striking is how integrated the vision is. Aviation, rail, ports, housing and employment are all being developed in tandem, creating an ecosystem rather than a standalone asset. Few cities have both the scale and the ambition to deliver something of this magnitude, and fewer still have a proven track record of following through.

As Dubai continues to attract talent, tourists and investment from across the world, projects like this underline why the city remains one of the most closely watched global growth stories.

Speak to our team to learn how you can get involved with Dubai’s growth.