The Al Maktoum International Airport expansion project receives $3.5 billion

The Dubai Airshow 2025 witnessed a strategic announcement that emphasized the pivotal role that Dubai plays in shaping the map of the global aviation sector, as it was announced today that the ambitious expansion project of Al Maktoum International Airport – Dubai World Central (DWC) has received financing worth $3.5 billion, through an “expression of interest” letter issued by the British Export Credit Agency (UKEF) as part of the giant expansion plan for the airport, which has a total value of $35 billion. American.

This support comes to ensure that British companies and institutions contribute their distinguished expertise to this development project, which aims to consolidate Dubai’s position as the largest aviation hub in the world. A ceremony took place at the Dubai South pavilion at the exhibition, where Sir Chris Bryant, British Trade Minister, handed over the document to Engineer Khalifa Al Zaffin, CEO of Dubai Aviation City Corporation and Dubai Aerospace Engineering Projects, and Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports.

This development is the first expression of international interest of its kind for the giant Al Maktoum International Airport project, and indicates firm global confidence in Dubai’s long-term aviation strategy and economic vision. It also reflects the growing international interaction around one of the most important airport infrastructure projects of this generation.

Sir Chris Bryant said: “This financing, worth up to $3.5 billion, announced by UK Export Credit (UKEF), represents a significant milestone that strengthens the long-standing partnership between the UK and Dubai and its pioneering projects with world-class infrastructure. Al Maktoum International Airport will redefine the future of global aviation. With this British support, there are great opportunities for British suppliers to showcase their cutting-edge capabilities.”

For his part, Engineer Khalifa Al Zaffin, CEO of Dubai Aviation City Corporation and Dubai Aerospace Engineering Projects, said: “The expansion of Al Maktoum International Airport is being implemented through a structured program that integrates advanced engineering, flexible design and long-term planning. This step represents valuable international support for a project based on clear technical standards and a disciplined framework for implementation. Our focus is on creating the infrastructure that will launch the next phase of the sector’s growth in Dubai, which reinforces our leadership’s vision of making Dubai a global aviation capital.”

Engineer Suzan Al Anani, Executive Director of Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects, said: “This expression of interest reflects the great international confidence in the Al Maktoum International Airport expansion project, which is based on an approach characterized by discipline and engineering leadership in all its stages. As the main developer and engineering body responsible for this project, Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects continues to focus on setting clear and precise specifications, applying a standard methodology in construction, consolidating the principles of sustainability, and providing a flexible infrastructure that will serve the Emirate of Dubai for decades to come.” We welcome the participation of qualified suppliers from the United Kingdom through the system and official channels adopted by the Corporation to conclude supply contracts, in conjunction with the expansion and escalation of the pace of work in the next stages of the project.”

For his part, Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, welcomed this development as an important achievement for the project, noting: “The Al Maktoum International Airport expansion project represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to rethink how the airport operates and what the future passenger journey should look like. This speech adds further international momentum to a project that will transform capacity, connect communities, and provide a new level of experience for hundreds of millions of travelers. The long-term vision for Al Maktoum International Airport “It is clear, and the support announced today strengthens our ability to achieve this vision.”

The official announcement ceremony was attended by Edward Hobart, British Ambassador to the UAE, along with senior presidents and CEOs from Dubai Airports, Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects, and Dubai South, senior officials from the British Embassy, ​​visiting ministerial delegations, representatives of the aviation sector and members of the international media.

The expansion of Al Maktoum International Airport will provide an integrated air infrastructure system, designed to serve the needs of the aviation sector for the next fifty years. The initial phase of this huge project, which will begin work in the early 2030s, is scheduled to accommodate up to 150 million passengers annually, while the long-term vision exceeds that, bringing the airport’s capacity to 260 million passengers. The project’s strategic focus on innovation, sustainability, and integration of modern transportation systems will enhance Dubai’s position as a leading global gateway for the movement of people, trade, and future mobility.”