From a 2032 launch to 260 million passengers: Key facts about Al Maktoum Airport.
Dubai: Al Maktoum International Airport is on track to begin operations in 2032, marking a major shift in the emirate’s aviation landscape.
The massive expansion will eventually transform the airport into Dubai’s main aviation hub, with plans to handle up to 260 million passengers annually once fully completed.
The airport, already operating on a smaller scale as Dubai World Central (DWC), is undergoing a major expansion that will eventually transform it into Dubai’s primary aviation hub.
The first phase is expected to provide capacity for 150 million passengers annually, while the fully developed airport is designed to handle 260 million passengers and 12 million tonnes of cargo each year. For UAE travellers, the shift to the new hub will be significant, but the transition will take place gradually.
These key numbers explain the scale of the project, its timeline and what UAE travellers can expect in the years ahead.
2032: First phase
The first major milestone is 2032, when the first phase of the expanded Al Maktoum International Airport is scheduled to begin operations. Dubai has confirmed that construction remains on track, with work progressing on runways, passenger-terminal foundations and other key infrastructure.
The 2032 date marks the opening of the first phase, rather than the completion of the entire airport project.
150 million: First capacity
Once the first phase is operational, Al Maktoum International will have capacity to handle 150 million passengers annually.
That puts the scale of the project into perspective. Dubai International Airport (DXB) handled a record 95.2 million passengers in 2025, its busiest year ever.
By comparison, the first phase of Al Maktoum International is planned to accommodate 150 million passengers annually — significantly more than DXB handled in an entire year at its 2025 peak.
260 million: Ultimate capacity
The really big number comes later. Once fully built, Al Maktoum International is planned to handle 260 million passengers annually, along with up to 12 million tonnes of cargo each year.
That figure represents the airport’s ultimate planned capacity, rather than the number of passengers expected when the first phase opens in 2032.
At full build-out, Al Maktoum International is planned to handle 260 million passengers annually, with capacity for 12 million tonnes of cargo each year.
These figures represent Dubai’s long-term aviation ambitions and the capacity being developed for future decades, rather than the expected traffic when the first phase opens.
Five: Runways
The completed airport is planned to feature five parallel runways, designed to support the massive increase in passenger and cargo traffic as the airport expands. Dubai Airports says the development will be delivered in phases, allowing capacity to grow in line with future demand.
For travellers, the additional runways will allow Al Maktoum International to handle a far greater number of aircraft movements as operations expand and passenger demand grows.
400: Aircraft stands
The airport’s first strategic phase is planned to include around 400 active and inactive aircraft stands, according to Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects.
Under the long-term development plan, the airport is expected to have more than 430 aircraft stands once fully completed.
The figures highlight that the project goes far beyond constructing a larger passenger terminal. Al Maktoum International is being developed as a complete aviation ecosystem, designed to support significantly higher aircraft movements, passenger traffic and cargo volumes.
Dh128 billion: Cost
The approved cost of the new passenger terminal project is Dh128 billion, underscoring the enormous scale of Dubai’s investment in its future aviation hub.
The terminal design was approved in 2024, with Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum stating that the completed airport would have the world’s largest passenger capacity, handling up to 260 million passengers a year and featuring five parallel runways and 400 aircraft gates.
Dubai Airports currently describes the project as a US$35 billion investment, with the expansion expected to transform Al Maktoum International into Dubai’s main aviation hub.
Dh13 billion: Contracts under construction
Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths said Dh13 billion worth of contracts are already under construction, with a further Dh55 billion in contracts expected to be awarded by the end of 2026. He said the project has already involved 10 million work hours, with 17,000 piles installed and 45 million cubic metres of earth moved at the site.
70 sq km: Airport size
At full development, Al Maktoum International is planned to span around 70 square kilometres, highlighting the enormous scale of Dubai’s future aviation hub. The project is being developed in phases, with the first phase scheduled to begin operations in 2032.
The project’s scale helps explain why Dubai views Al Maktoum International as more than an airport expansion. The site is being developed as part of the wider Dubai South growth area, with aviation, logistics, transport and other economic activities planned around the airport.
12 million: Cargo
At full development, Al Maktoum International is designed to handle 12 million tonnes of cargo annually. This capacity supports Dubai’s ambitions to strengthen its position as a global logistics and trade hub by integrating air cargo with shipping and the surrounding logistics infrastructure.
15 minutes: Baggage
For passengers, one of the planned service targets is 15 minutes for baggage delivery, according to Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects. The target highlights the emphasis on faster and more efficient passenger processing at the future airport.
The airport’s plans also include a metro station, a 6,000-space car park and automated people-mover services linking passengers between terminals and concourses. The latest plans call for a much larger automated people-mover network, with nine stations and a 50km route as part of the first-stage development.
For travellers, these features could be more significant than the headline capacity figures. The goal is to create a highly connected and automated airport where passengers can move efficiently across the vast complex.
2032–35: The transition
The long-term plan is to gradually shift operations from Dubai International Airport (DXB) to Al Maktoum International as capacity becomes available.
Dubai Airports has indicated that the transition will be carefully planned and managed rather than being an abrupt switch, allowing airlines, passengers and airport operations to adapt progressively.
That transition will be particularly important for UAE residents, as DXB remains Dubai’s main international gateway. The airport handled a record 95.2 million passengers in 2025, its busiest year ever.
As Al Maktoum International expands, the timing of individual airline and flight transfers will be a key consideration for travellers. The shift is expected to happen in stages as the new airport’s capacity comes online, rather than through an immediate move from DXB.
