Dubai goes for expansion of Al Maktoum Int'l Airport

Dubai has officially entered the large-scale construction phase of its ambitious Al Maktoum International Airport expansion, with contracts worth Dh13 billion already underway and strategic projects valued at over Dh55 billion set to be awarded in the next phase, officials confirmed.

Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Airports, described the project as ‘one of the most significant strategic projects shaping Dubai's economic future’, reinforcing the UAE’s long-term vision of investing in world-class infrastructure to accommodate rapid growth in tourism and business.

The next round of contract awards will cover major packages, including substructure works for the Western Passenger Terminal, a fourth aircraft concourse building, an Automated People Mover system, baggage handling systems, and superstructure works for the terminal and first three concourses. Other packages include long-span structural frameworks covering 1.5 million square metres, southern airfield infrastructure, and power generation plants.

Construction activity has accelerated over the past 15 months, with more than 10 million work hours completed. Ongoing works include over 17,000 concrete piles, 45 million cubic metres of excavation, and 4.5 million cubic metres of concrete. The on-site workforce currently stands at 9,000 and is expected to peak at 120,000.

Once fully completed, the airport will feature five parallel runways, two passenger terminals, seven concourses, and more than 430 aircraft stands. An integrated Automated People Mover and multimodal transport links will connect air, rail, and road networks.

Additionally, Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects is upgrading Dubai International Airport with a Dh16 billion budget, including terminal expansions and access route enhancements, to support flydubai's future fleet growth and ensure a seamless transition to the larger aviation hub in Dubai.