Sheikh Mohammed: Al Maktoum Airport will replace Dubai International in future

Al Maktoum Airport will ultimately be the world’s largest, reaching up to 260 million passengers per year

April 28, 2024

Credit: WAM

All operations at Dubai International Airport (DXB) in Al Garhoud will fully shift to Al Maktoum International (AMI) in the coming years, says His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

On Sunday, Sheikh Mohammed — who is Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai — approved designs for a new Dhs128bn passenger terminal at Al Maktoum International Airport.“Al Maktoum International Airport will enjoy the world’s largest capacity, reaching up to 260 million passengers.

It will be five times the size of the current Dubai International Airport, and all operations at Dubai International Airport will be transferred to it in the coming years,” said Sheikh Mohammed in a statement carried by state news agency WAM.

“The airport will accommodate 400 aircraft gates and feature five parallel runways. New aviation technologies will be employed for the first time in the aviation sector,” he added.Upon completion, the airport will also cover an area of 70 square kilometres.

The approval came during Sheikh Mohammed’s visit to the Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects. He was accompanied by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, and Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, First Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance.

Al Maktoum International to spur on Dubai South

The development at Al Maktoum International is expected to also spur on other projects in Dubai South.

“As we build an entire city around the airport in Dubai South, demand for housing for a million people will follow,” said His Highness Sheikh Mohammed.

“It will host the world’s leading companies in the logistics and air transport sectors.

“Dubai will be the world’s airport, its port, its urban hub, and its new global centre,” he added.

Boost for jet fuel market: S&P

Credit ratings agency, Standard & Poor’s (S&P), said in a note that the new airport could prove to be boost for jet fuel demand in Dubai, especially amid ENOC having built a pipeline to the new airport

“Dubai’s state-owned ENOC operates out of 300 airports in 25 countries, through its ENOC Aviation, which provides about 40 per cent of jet fuel demand at DXB, one of the world’s busiest airports for international travel. The jet fuel is supplied through two pipelines linking its storage terminals in Jebel Ali in Dubai to the airport,” said S&P Global.

“In 2022, ENOC completed the construction of its 16.2-km pipeline linking its Horizon Emirates Jebel Ali Petroleum storage terminal in Jebel Ali to the Maktoum airport. The pipeline can carry 2,000 cu m/hour of jet fuel to Maktoum, meeting demand through at least 2050, ENOC has estimated. Its 213,000 b/d refinery at Jebel Ali produces LPG, gasoline blendstock, jet fuel, fuel oil and diesel,” said S&P Global.