Dubai confirms 2032 launch timeline for new mega airport project
Sheikh Hamdan sets Dh55 billion aviation drive as Al Maktoum Airport expands
DUBAI – Dubai’s aviation roadmap has taken a major leap forward as His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, confirmed that strategic project contracts worth more than Dh55 billion will be awarded in the coming months, accelerating the expansion of Al Maktoum International Airport
The announcement underscores the scale of investment flowing into Dubai’s long-term air transport infrastructure as the emirate prepares for a significant capacity shift over the next decade.
The update also follows an April review that included upgrades to Emirates’ Network Operations Control Centre, signalling continued focus on operational efficiency across the aviation ecosystem.
Dubai airport expansion
The project remains on schedule, with Phase 1 of the expanded airport expected to begin operations in 2032. Dubai Airports data shows the long-term blueprint aims to raise capacity to 150 million passengers annually within the next decade, before scaling further to around 260 million passengers and 12 million tonnes of cargo at full completion. These figures place the development among the most ambitious airport projects globally, designed to support Dubai’s expanding role as a global aviation hub.
Work on the Al Maktoum International Airport expansion continues according to the approved timeline, with Phase 1 scheduled to begin operations in 2032. Contracts worth AED13 billion are currently being executed, and more than 10 million work hours have been completed over the… pic.twitter.com/CAfe2TGsxo
— Hamdan bin Mohammed (@HamdanMohammed) June 15, 2026
Work already underway includes Dh13 billion worth of contracts actively being executed across major construction packages. More than 10 million work hours have been completed in the past 15 months, reflecting steady progress on site. The development spans approximately 70 square kilometres in Dubai South, making it nearly five times larger than Dubai International Airport.
Can Dubai International keep pace?
Dubai International Airport handled more than 95 million passengers in 2025 and recorded 454,800 flight movements, retaining its position as the world’s busiest international airport for a twelfth consecutive year. However, capacity projections indicate it will approach its operational ceiling of around 115 million passengers by 2031, intensifying the need for a gradual transition to Al Maktoum International as Dubai’s aviation network expands.
How will capacity shift work?
The new airport is expected to initially accommodate around 124 million passengers in its early major operating phase before expanding towards full capacity. The staged transition is designed to balance traffic between Dubai’s two airports while ensuring uninterrupted growth in passenger and cargo movement. Once fully completed, the facility will include five parallel runways and around 400 aircraft gates, enabling large-scale global connectivity.
Which airlines move first?
Operational planning indicates that flydubai is expected to be among the first carriers to relocate operations to Al Maktoum International as capacity pressures increase at Dubai International. Meanwhile, Emirates continues to operate heavily from Dubai International, with around 1,500 weekly departures and 70 weekly freighter flights from Al Maktoum International, reinforcing the dual-airport model emerging across the emirate.
Why is Dubai South central to this expansion?
The airport sits within Dubai South, a rapidly developing district positioned as a long-term economic and logistics hub. Plans for integrated infrastructure, including future metro connectivity, are designed to support passenger movement and reinforce the area’s role as a combined aviation, residential and commercial zone, anchoring Dubai’s next phase of growth.