AI and robotics power Al Maktoum Airport's 260 million passenger vision

Dubai’s Al Maktoum International Airport is advancing steadily, with several contracts awarded and tenders issued for critical infrastructure, according to Khalifa Al Zaffin, Executive Chairman of Dubai Aviation City Corporation (DACC).

Speaking on the final day of the 2025 Airport Show at Dubai World Trade Centre, Al Zaffin said that the airport’s development has made tangible progress since the approval of its master plan by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum in April 2024.

Contracts for enabling works and the construction of a second runway have already been awarded. Meanwhile, other essential components, such as the automated people mover and baggage handling system, are now in the tendering phase, with awards expected later this year.

The next stage will involve tenders for key infrastructure works, including foundations and concrete structures, central cooling stations, and 132 kV substations. The project remains on schedule under the oversight of Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects Corporation.

Dubai’s Al Maktoum International AirportProvided

Al Zaffin highlighted Al Maktoum International Airport as a strategic pillar of the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33), designed to strengthen Dubai’s position as a global hub for aviation, logistics, and sustainable economic growth. He also noted that Emirates Airlines’ record revenues in 2024 underline the sector’s momentum and the need for future-ready infrastructure.

The first phase of development includes a passenger terminal and four concourses, boosting the airport’s capacity to 150 million passengers annually. Upon full completion, capacity will reach 260 million passengers and 12 million tons of cargo per year.

Strategically located near Jebel Ali Port and the Free Zone, the airport will anchor a fully integrated logistics and lifestyle hub in Dubai South, designed to support up to one million residents and workers.

The 70-square-kilometer mega-airport will feature more than 400 aircraft gates, an automated transport network, and cutting-edge technologies such as AI, robotics, and biometric systems. Sustainability is central to the design, with a target of LEED Gold certification.

On the transition from Dubai International Airport, Al Zaffin said the shift will be executed in a coordinated and simultaneous manner to avoid disruption. An executive transition program is currently being developed with key stakeholders.

To ease current traffic congestion near Dubai International Airport, short- and medium-term solutions are being implemented in partnership with the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), already resulting in improved traffic flow. Further steps are planned to ensure smooth accessibility during the transition phase.