DUBAI is expanding its airport that will become the world’s biggest once built and is set to open in seven years time.
The expansion of Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai will make it even bigger than the King Salman International Airport which is currently being constructed in Saudi Arabia.
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In comparison to the airport in Saudi Arabia, which also wants to be the world’s biggest, Al Maktoum International Airport will be a whopping 70 square kilometres rather than 56.
The expansion means that the Dubai airport will be able to manage 260 million passengers per year once fully constructed.
King Salman International Airport will be able to handle 185 million.
The first expansion phase of Dubai’s airport is set to be completed in seven years, and will be able to handle up to 150 million passengers.
It will have a brand new passenger terminal with a futuristic canopy with lots of greenery and water features across four concourses.
The current Al Maktoum International Airport is 22 miles outside of the city and first opened in 2010.
Now, it’s undergoing a huge expansion that will stretch across 70 square kilometres.
Eventually it will have over 400 aircraft gates making it five times the size of Dubai International Airport.
After the first phase, the airport can take 150 million passengers which will increase to 260 million passengers per year once construction is fully complete.
The airport is also going to be technologically advanced with automated travel systems, AI security check and robot staff.
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The robots will be used for various tasks, including baggage handling and potentially customer service roles too.
Flights from the UK will arrive at this airport, as there are 22 non-stop journeys per day from UK airports to Dubai International Airport.
But that airport will close once the new runways at Al Maktoum International Airport are operational.
All of the flights will be redirected to the new site – including those from the UK.
The boss of Dubai International Airport, Mr Griffiths spoke at the Arabian Travel Market conference and said: “We will move every single service to DWC.”
Mr Griffiths added that the land occupied by DXB would likely be redeveloped once the airport closes: “DXB will close and we’ll redevelop the area. It will spread the city out.”
Al Maktoum International Airport will be even bigger than the King Salman International Airport which is being constructed in Saudi Arabia.
King Salman International Airport is on schedule to open in 2030 and will be the size of 14,000 football fields.
It’s being built around the existing King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh.
The airport will be 57 square kilometers, have six runways and will eventually see 185 million passengers once fully complete in 2050.
Currently, Brits can fly directly from London to Riyadh with an average flight time being six hours and 42 minutes .
These flights are likely to continue and even increase with the opening of the new airport.
Plus, the three regional airports across the UK to get new airlines and holiday destinations.
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