DUBAI, April 28, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - Dubai announced on Sunday that work had 
begun on a new terminal at Al Maktoum International Airport, which the Gulf 
emirate's ruler said will become "the world's largest" at a cost of almost 
$35 billion.

"We approved the designs for the new passenger terminal at Al Maktoum 
International Airport, and (are) commencing construction of the building at a 
cost of AED 128 billion ($34.85 billion)," Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al 
Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai and prime minister of the United Arab Emirates, 
said on X.

Once fully operational, the airport will "handle a passenger capacity of 260 
million annually", the government said in a statement.

Sheikh Mohammed said it will have "the world's largest capacity" and be "five 
times the size of the current Dubai International Airport", which is one of 
the world's busiest air hubs.

According to Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, president of the Dubai Civil 
Aviation Authority and CEO of flag carrier Emirates, "the first phase of the 
project will be ready within a period of 10 years, with a capacity to 
accommodate 150 million passengers annually."

Built on the city's outskirts, Al Maktoum airport has received a relatively 
small share of the Gulf financial hub's air traffic since 2010.

Authorities want it to replace Dubai International Airport, which has a 
capacity of up to 120 million passengers annually and whose city-centre 
location prevents expansion.