Dubai is moving forward with its major projects with confidence and stability… and it will continue to soar further

The Dubai government has confirmed that work on the Al Maktoum International Airport development project is continuing according to the approved schedule, with continuous progress being made in implementing the main packages, and completing the necessary preparations to launch and award future packages, in a way that supports the goal of starting operation of its first phase in 2032, within the comprehensive long-term vision of the project, noting that the airport development program has recorded remarkable progress across various implementation paths, including enabling works, infrastructure for aircraft runways, and initial infrastructure for passenger terminals and gates. Within the framework of an integrated implementation system that reflects the size of the project and its strategic importance.

His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense and Chairman of the Executive Council of the Emirate of Dubai, praised the efforts of the team concerned with the success of this major strategic project, led by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Airports, Chairman of Dubai Aviation City Corporation and Chairman of Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects, stressing that “The Al Maktoum International Airport development project reflects Dubai’s future vision of building world-class infrastructure that supports sustainable economic growth and enhances the emirate’s competitiveness in the long term.” The long one.

His Highness said, “The development of Al Maktoum International Airport constitutes a strategic investment in the future of Dubai, and a pivotal step with a major positive impact on the process of comprehensive and sustainable development in the emirate,” pointing out that “this project comes within the framework of an integrated vision that aims to anticipate the requirements of future growth, provide an advanced infrastructure capable of keeping pace with global transformations, and enhance Dubai’s readiness for new economic opportunities, in a way that serves various vital sectors and contributes to achieving the highest levels of efficiency.”

His Highness added: “The Al Maktoum International Airport project represents a major pillar for achieving the goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, by increasing the capacity of the aviation sector and enhancing the efficiency of the transport and logistics system, which contributes to attracting quality investments, expanding the scope of businesses, and creating sustainable economic opportunities that support the development process for decades to come.”

His Highness said, in a blog post on the “X” website, yesterday: “Dubai teams continue to work on implementing the Al Maktoum International Airport development project according to the approved timetable, which aims to operate the first phase in 2032. Contracts worth 13 billion dirhams are currently being implemented, while more than 10 million hours of work have been completed during the past 15 months. The pace of implementation will accelerate and the launch of strategic projects within the airport worth more than 55 billion dirhams will occur during the next few months. Today, in Dubai, we are building the airport of the future with a capacity exceeding a quarter of a billion passengers annually, to constitute a new gateway to the emirate’s future and a major engine for its economic growth for decades to come. Under the guidance and follow-up of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai is proceeding with the implementation of its major projects with confidence and consistency, and, God willing, and with the efforts of the faithful, it will continue to soar farther with its vision, higher with its ambitions, and faster with its achievements.

Al Maktoum Airport

In the same context, His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum stressed that “the Al Maktoum International Airport development project continues to progress steadily according to the approved schedule, as it enters the stage of large-scale construction implementation, in a step that embodies Dubai’s strategic vision to consolidate its leading global position as a major and pivotal center for the aviation and logistics sectors.”

His Highness said: “Al Maktoum International Airport represents one of the most important strategic projects that shape Dubai’s economic future, and embodies the vision of our wise leadership in long-term investment in world-class infrastructure, capable of keeping pace with the rapid growth in travel, trade and logistics services. The project’s transition to the large-scale construction implementation phase – with packages under implementation worth exceeding 13 billion dirhams, and the preparation to award strategic projects worth more than 55 billion dirhams during the next phase – reflects the level of progress achieved and the great momentum witnessed by the project.”

His Highness added: “When completed, Al Maktoum International Airport will form a pivotal pillar in supporting the objectives of Dubai’s D33 Economic Agenda, and strengthening the emirate’s position as a leading global center for trade, tourism, logistics services and international connectivity, which will consolidate Dubai’s readiness for the future and enhance the aviation sector’s contribution to driving sustainable economic growth for decades to come.”

Proactive vision

In this context, the Director-General of Dubai Finance, Abdul Rahman Saleh Al Saleh, said: “The Al Maktoum International Airport project, which His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, may God protect him, described as (our new global airport), embodies Dubai’s proactive vision to consolidate its position as a global center for economic movement and logistics services through the development of an integrated system based on operational efficiency, sustainability, and readiness for the requirements of the future.”

He pointed out that the project reflects the directives of the wise leadership in long-term investment in quality infrastructure, which supports public financial sustainability, stimulates economic growth across multiple vital sectors, and enhances Dubai’s ability to anticipate future transformations and benefit from them.

He added: “This project represents a pivotal pillar within the Dubai government’s strategy to enhance financial sustainability by developing sovereign assets capable of generating sustainable added value and attracting quality investments at the regional and international levels.”

Integrated model

Khalifa Suhail Al Zaffin, CEO of Dubai Aviation City Corporation, said: “Al Maktoum International Airport represents a transformative project that forms the cornerstone of the future of the aviation sector in Dubai, and a strategic engine to support economic growth and enhance the emirate’s competitiveness in the long term,” stressing the continuation of work on developing an integrated operational model that keeps pace with the expected growth in passenger and freight traffic over the coming decades, and establishes a new phase of operational efficiency and future readiness.

For her part, Executive Director of Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects, Engineer Suzanne Al Anani, confirmed that “construction work at Al Maktoum International Airport is witnessing rapid progress, with the value of the construction packages currently being implemented exceeding 13 billion dirhams.” She explained that the ongoing work includes the construction of more than 17 thousand concrete stakes and excavation operations exceeding 45 million cubic metres, in addition to completing the work of the second runway in preparation for the rehabilitation of the current runway. The work also includes the infrastructure package, which includes the implementation of approximately 4.5 million cubic meters of concrete work, an indicator that reflects the size and acceleration of the project’s implementation pace.

She added that the total work hours implemented exceeded 10 million hours during the past 15 months, while the number of workforce on the site currently stands at about nine thousand workers, with expectations that it will rise to about 120 thousand people when the project’s construction capacity reaches its peak.

Al-Anani pointed out that the coming period represents a pivotal stage in the implementation of the Al Maktoum International Airport development program, with preparations to award a number of major packages by the end of this year with a total value exceeding 55 billion dirhams, including the infrastructure works for the western passenger terminal and the fourth aircraft gate building, in addition to the two projects of the automated passenger transportation system and the baggage handling system, and the overhead structure works for the western passenger terminal and the first, second and third aircraft gate buildings.

These packages also include the void structures of buildings covering an area of ​​approximately 1.5 million square metres, in addition to the infrastructure work for the airport apron on the southern side and the power and central cooling stations supporting the construction work.

Al Maktoum International Airport is being developed to be the largest aviation hub in the world, with an annual capacity exceeding 260 million passengers and 12 million tons of air cargo when its final phase is completed. The airport will include five parallel runways with independent operations, two passenger terminals, and seven gate terminals with more than 430 connected aircraft stands, in addition to an integrated automated passenger transport system and seamless multimodal connectivity that includes air transport, rail transport and land transport.

---

Continue development and modernization

Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects continues to implement a comprehensive program to develop and modernize the current infrastructure of the aviation sector, which includes “Dubai International Airport” and “Dubai World Central”, within the framework of a strategic vision aimed at enhancing operational efficiency, raising capacity, and improving the passenger experience, in order to keep pace with the rapid growth in air traffic and enhance the sector’s readiness for the next stage.

This program includes a number of ongoing and future projects, which include expanding and modernizing the passenger terminal and boarding facilities connected to the current building in Dubai World Central, in order to support Flydubai’s operations and accommodate its fleet expansion plans with wide-body Boeing 787 aircraft.

---

Dubai Airport

At Dubai International Airport, a number of vital improvement projects are being implemented, which include developing the access bridge to Terminal 3, improving the roads and entrances leading to Terminals 1 and 3, and carrying out development work on the landing strips to enhance operational flexibility, in addition to the expansion and modernization of remote boarding facilities and baggage handling systems.

A total budget of 16 billion dirhams has been allocated for these works, of which contracts worth more than 7.5 billion dirhams have been awarded so far, reflecting the continued progress in implementing the development program and the continued investment in developing the infrastructure of the aviation sector in the emirate.

Hamdan bin Mohammed:

• Today, in Dubai, we are building the airport of the future, with a capacity exceeding a quarter of a billion passengers annually, to form a new gateway to the emirate’s future.

• The Al Maktoum Airport project is a major pillar for achieving the goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33.

Ahmed bin Saeed:

• Al Maktoum International Airport represents one of the most important strategic projects that shape the economic future of Dubai.

• 13 billion dirhams, the size of the packages being implemented at the airport, and the awarding of strategic projects exceeding 55 billion dirhams in the next phase.