Construction of World's Largest Airport Underway in Dubai, Hosting 160 Million Passengers Yearly
Dubai World Central (DWC), set to undergo development, is expected to become the world's largest airport, with the capacity to accommodate 160 million passengers annually. This ambitious project underscores Dubai's commitment to global connectivity and future excellence in aviation.
(Photo : Unsplash/Bao Menglong )
Reason Behind the Expansion of Dubai World Central
In 2022, the busiest airport in the world, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International, served approximately 63 million fewer passengers than Dubai International, which served roughly 100 million more. It is worth noting that DWC is presently the busiest airport worldwide, excluding the United States, and functions as the principal international gateway for Dubai.
However, Dubai's most recent airport is still a significant work in progress, 13 years after its initial cargo operation and ten years after a pandemic after its inaugural passenger flight. DWC has become an important center for the aviation industry's 'MRO' services.
Not only does it manage executive jets and a few charter flights, but it also provides services to several air cargo carriers. One of these carriers is Emirates Cargo, the freight section of the United Arab Emirates' national airline. On the other hand, the available scheduled passenger services are those provided by a limited number of low-cost airlines. Most of these carriers travel to Eastern Europe, Russia, and Central Asia.
Futuristic Features of the Dubai World Central's Development Plan
After a modest beginning in 2013, the rulers of the United Arab Emirates have made plans to transform Al Maktoum International Airport, also known as Dubai World Central, into the largest airport in the world. Government agencies have intended to rethink how space is utilized to expand its capacity by implementing cutting-edge technologies and refurbishing existing buildings. Currently, it serves 100 million passengers annually and plans to accommodate more than 160 million passengers annually in addition to 12 million tons of cargo.
The Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Airports, Paul Griffiths, stated that the passenger predictions 2024 are currently at 88.2 million, while the forecasts for 2025 are at 93.8 million. Also, he mentioned that the blueprints for the futuristic mega-airport are already being drafted.
Moreover, during the Dubai Air Show, which took place in 2023, the authorities presented an enormous scale model that encompassed a three-dimensional scale model. There are three considerable terminals and six parallel runways in the model. In November 2023, Griffiths asserted that when potential capacity is reached, they will require a new airport, which will reportedly have to take place at some point during the 2030s. Thus, Griffiths has been careful not to confirm a date throughout this period.
Located immediately south of Dubai, the airport will be the focal point of a much larger plan known as Dubai South. This plan envisions the establishment of a whole new metropolis in a desert area that spans 145 square kilometers. Accordingly, there will be a mix of residential and business sectors within this entire new district, which is already beginning to take shape in some parts. There will be eight communities, each of which will be designated for a particular industry or activity.
In addition, a complete 'aerotropolis' will be formed due to the airport at the activities center. The Mohammed bin Rashid (MBR) Aerospace Hub will play an essential part in this ambition, serving as the location for Dubai's rapidly expanding aviation and aerospace industrial ecosystem. This ecosystem will include the Emirates Engineering Center, which was only recently reported worth $950 million.
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