In line with the UAE’s longstanding reputation for incredibly ambitious (and costly) construction projects, Emirates has provided a visual preview of its forthcoming base at Al Maktoum International Airport, Dubai.
For context, Al Maktoum International Airport (also known as Dubai World Central) is currently undergoing an extensive refurbishment priced at 128 billion dirhams ($53.3 billion).
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Upon the complex’s eventual completion, it’ll reportedly measure five times the size of the current Dubai International Airport (DXB) — 70 square kilometres, to be precise — with five parallel runways and 400 aircraft gates; catering to an estimated 260 million passengers across five terminals annually. It’s also set to become the city’s main international hub.
“As we build an entire city around the airport in Dubai South, demand for housing for a million people will follow. It will host the world’s leading companies in the logistics and air transport sectors,” said His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, ruler of Dubai.
“We are building a new project for future generations, ensuring continuous and stable development for our children and their children in turn. Dubai will be the world’s airport, its port, its urban hub, and its new global centre.”
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Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, added: “The growth of Dubai has always been hand in hand with the growth of its aviation infrastructure and today we see another bold step on that journey.”
“[The announcement of Phase Two] marks the start of a huge investment of resources by our many stakeholders in designing and building a state-of-the-art airport that will provide a quick, convenient, and high-quality 21st-century experience for our customers.”
Within the next decade, DXB is scheduled to completely relocate to this new and improved facility. Check out the full gallery of artist renderings via Emirates below.
