The China Harbour Engineering Co., Ltd. (China Harbour) has been formally selected by the Dubai Aerospace Engineering Projects Agency (DAEP) to lead the infrastructural development of the first phase of expansion at Al Maktoum International Airport. This milestone marks a significant achievement, as the airport is slated to become the largest aviation hub globally.

Under the ambitious expansion plan, the project will include the construction of five parallel runways, five terminal buildings, and 400 boarding gates. Upon completion, the airport is expected to handle 260 million passengers annually, manage 12 million tons of cargo, and span 70 square kilometers — roughly five times the size of the current Dubai International Airport.

The first phase schedule includes simultaneous construction across major sections, including the West Terminal and the first through third waiting halls. The West Terminal alone will be a modern seven-floor terminal covering 800,000 square meters, with a projected annual passenger capacity of 45 million. Supporting the airport’s internal connectivity, a 14-station Automated People Mover (APM) system will be built — the first phase will deliver four underground stations, offering efficient transport across the airport apron and between terminals.

The project follows a three-phase development plan. The first phase is under way, with completion and commissioning targeted for 2032. In May 2025, DAEP awarded a US $272 million contract to Binladin Contracting Group for construction of a second runway, while Tristar E&C (Abu Dhabi) is responsible for preliminary works on one of the terminal buildings. The 2032 target date aligns with Dubai’s broader strategic plan to gradually move all aviation operations from the current Dubai International Airport to Al Maktoum Airport within the next decade.