Dubai to award Dh55bn in contracts by year-end for Al Maktoum Airport expansion

Dubai is on track to award Dh55 billion in construction contracts by the end of 2026 for the expansion of Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC), the city's second major airport. This follows an additional Dh13 billion in contracts awarded this year for the new terminal's development.

Construction has proceeded without interruption despite the regional conflict, with Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths confirming that 10 million work hours have already been committed to the project. 17,000 piles have been installed, and 45 million cubic meters of earth have been moved. Around 9,000 workers are currently on-site, with capacity reaching 120,000 during peak construction periods.

The first phase, set for completion in 2032, will enable the new terminal to handle 150 million passengers annually. The full expansion is expected to increase DWC's capacity to 260 million passengers and 12 million tonnes of cargo per year. Dubai International Airport (DXB) is also preparing for the same capacity limit by implementing upgrades like a T-shaped expanded concourse and a new retail area.

Griffiths maintains that construction is proceeding at no slower pace due to the ongoing Iran war, attributing this confidence to the availability of global suppliers. The timing of DWC's expansion coincides with the advent of long-range narrow-body aircraft, which will allow DWC to serve a significantly larger number of cities more economically. With these developments, DWC is poised to become one of the world's largest airports, reflecting Dubai's commitment to future growth and infrastructure development.