The ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, has approved the design plans for the new passenger terminals at Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC). The total cost of the project is estimated to be AED 128 billion ($34 billion).

The expansion of Al Maktoum International Airport will make it the world’s largest airport in terms of capacity, accommodating up to 260 million passengers annually. The airport’s infrastructure will include 400 aircraft gates and five parallel runways.

The new facility will be five times larger than the current Dubai International Airport. The transition of all airport operations to the new facility is expected to happen in the coming years.

“We are building a new project for future generations, ensuring continuous and stable development for our children and their children in turn, Dubai will be the world’s airport, its port, its urban hub, and its new global center,” Sheikh Mohammed said in a statement on X.

The development of Al Maktoum International Airport aims to enhance air travel infrastructure and foster broader economic growth. The project will also create a new city in Dubai South, the area surrounding the airport, expected to house a million residents.