NordenBladet – Dubai is embarking on an ambitious airport expansion project as air traffic continues to surge. Dubai International Airport (DXB), already the world’s busiest international traveler hub, is gearing up for a substantial €1.5 to €2.5 billion overhaul over the next 5 to 7 years. These plans, recently revealed by Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths, aim to boost DXB’s annual passenger capacity to 120 million within 15 years.
Yet, this growth is merely the beginning. Once DXB hits its maximum capacity, the focus will shift to Dubai’s second hub, Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC), which developers envision becoming “the world’s largest airport.” Currently handling around 1.6 million passengers annually, DWC’s capacity is poised to soar, potentially accommodating over 250 million passengers by 2050.
As Griffiths explained on Bloomberg Television, there’s a need to expedite efforts to enhance the existing airport’s capacity for the short term, ensuring it covers demands for the next 10 to 15 years. Subsequently, there will be a concerted push to develop the colossal airport of the future.
Dubai World Central Airport currently handles only a small fraction of the city’s incoming travelers. However, there are ongoing discussions among developers about transforming it into the world’s largest airport. A previous €30 billion expansion plan for DWC was postponed, but there’s potential for it to be revived.
According to local reports, the initial phase of this project aims to increase the airport’s capacity to approximately 130 million passengers annually. The entire development will encompass a vast area spanning 56 square kilometers. Dubai South, a comprehensive urban development initiative, has provided glimpses of this project on its social media platforms, highlighting its vision to create the world’s largest airport, complete with a multi-modal transportation network connecting air, land, and sea.
However, it’s important to note that the environmental impact of this expansion is expected to be substantial. In 2019, Dubai International Airport (DXB) alone, with 83 million passengers, was responsible for emitting a staggering 16.65 million metric tons of CO2, ranking it as the world’s highest emitter among all airports.
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