The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has unveiled construction of what could be the world’s biggest airport, the Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC).
UAE Prime Minister and ruler of Dubai announced the development in a statement on social media.
“We are building a new project for future generations, ensuring continuous and stable development for our children and their children in turns. Dubai will be the world’s airport, its port, its urban hub and its new global center.”
This monumental project was met with the authoritative approval of UAE officials who gave the green light for the construction of new passenger terminals in Dubai. The construction of the airport is estimated to incur a cost of AED 128 billion ($35 billion) and is expected to be completed in 10 years.
The Al Maktoum International Airport, after construction, will claim the title of the world’s largest airport in terms of passenger capacity, boasting an astonishing capacity to accommodate up to 260 million travelers and will dwarf the Dubai International Airport (DXB), by a factor of five in terms of size and scale.
The airport is set to feature an impressive array of 400 aircraft gates, ensuring seamless connectivity for a multitude of carriers and five parallel runways.
In anticipation of its grand inauguration, all operations currently housed at the Dubai International Airport are slated for transfer to the Al Maktoum International Airport in the forthcoming years, solidifying its status as the preeminent aviation hub in the region.
In the previous year, the passenger traffic at Dubai’s current airport, DXB, experienced a remarkable surge, surpassing its total for 2019, with a staggering 86.9 million passengers. This substantial increase exceeded the 86.3 million passengers recorded in 2019. Notably, 2018 stands out as the busiest year for the airport, with a record-breaking 89.1 million passengers before the onset of the pandemic.
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Story by: Frimpong Collins | univers.ug.edu.gh
