• Expansion of Dubai airport underway
• Set to become the largest globally
• Contract bids to be finalized by year’s end

Dubai has announced plans to grant significant infrastructure contracts at Al Maktoum International Airport this year, as construction progresses on what is slated to be the largest airport in the world, according to a senior official from the government.

Bids for a system to transport passengers automatically and for baggage handling infrastructure have already been released and are anticipated to be awarded before the close of 2025, as stated by Khalifa Al Zaffin, executive chairman of Dubai Aviation City Corporation.

This bidding process follows the revival of the airport’s expansion plans by the Dubai government, a project that had faced delays previously.

Initially inaugurated in 2010, this airport is a pivotal element of the emirate’s comprehensive strategy to preserve its position as a leader in global aviation.

The first phase includes a main passenger terminal along with four concourses, designed to increase annual capacity to 150 million travelers.

Future bids will encompass foundational infrastructure, district cooling systems, and substations capable of providing 132 kV of power, according to Al Zaffin.

Once completed, DWC will be five times the size of Dubai International Airport (DXB), covering an area of 70 square kilometers, and will have the capability to manage 260 million passengers and 12 million tonnes of cargo each year.

The airport will feature two passenger terminals, seven concourses, over 400 aircraft gates, and an automated transit system.

The Dubai Aviation City Corporation, the governmental body supervising both DXB and DWC, is also in charge of Dubai South, a significant economic zone of 145 square kilometers focused on aviation, logistics, and e-commerce.

During the recent Arabian Travel Market event, Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, emphasized that the substantial scale of the site will require rapid transit solutions.

“The site is so vast that traveling across it is comparable to a 20-minute rail journey between King’s Cross and Paddington in London,” Griffiths noted.

“We need to ensure that travel within the airport is quick, efficient, and competitive to facilitate seamless transfers.”