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<\/p>\nDubai’s airport infrastructure strategy is accelerating. The expansion of Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) has entered the construction phase, with AED 55 billion (approximately USD 15 billion) in contracts set to be awarded by end of 2026.<\/p>\n
This landmark project is expected to generate significant ripple effects across the surrounding real estate market.<\/p>\n
In this article, we break down the relationship between the Al Maktoum International Airport expansion and Dubai South real estate.<\/p>\n
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Al Maktoum International Airport (Dubai World Central, DWC) is a separate international airport from Dubai International Airport (DXB). It began cargo operations in 2010 and passenger terminal operations in 2013.<\/p>\n
Due to its distance from the city center, annual passenger numbers currently stand at around one million \u2014 but travelers who use it give it high marks:<\/p>\n
“There’s no congestion at all \u2014 every process goes smoothly, and the journey is genuinely comfortable.”
\n“It’s a little far from the city center, but aside from that, it’s a wonderful airport.”<\/p>\n
The airport is consistently praised for its ease of use and passenger experience.<\/p>\n
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Dubai International Airport (DXB) currently serves as Dubai’s primary airport, but it is approaching capacity limits and congestion is intensifying. As a result, plans are underway to transfer aviation operations from DXB to Al Maktoum International Airport.<\/p>\n
Construction worth AED 55 billion is scheduled to be completed by end of 2026.<\/p>\n
Scope of works includes:<\/p>\n
According to Suzanne Al A<\/p>\n
nani of Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects, the following works have already been completed:<\/p>\n
Cumulative site hours over the past 15 months have exceeded 10 million, with around 9,000 workers currently on-site \u2014 a figure<\/p>\n
expected to peak at approximately 120,000.<\/p>\n
Phase 1 of Al Maktoum International Airport is expected to be completed in 2032. Spanning 70 square kilometers with a total floor area of 19.4 million square meters, it will rank among the world’s most ambitious megaprojects.<\/p>\n
Upon completion, the airport will feature:<\/p>\n
To put that in perspective, Dubai International Airport (DXB) currently handles approximately 95.2 million passengers per year \u2014 making Al Maktoum’s 260 million-plus capacity an extraordinary leap in scale.<\/p>\n
In April 2024, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum announced plans to build an entire city around Al Maktoum International Airport, a development expected to generate housing demand for one million people. Dubai South has been officially designated as a large-scale urban development zone, and several major real estate projects are currently underway.<\/p>\n
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| Item<\/b><\/td>\n | Details<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n| Project<\/span><\/td>\n | Large-scale mixed-use master community (working title)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | Announcement Date<\/span><\/td>\n | May 19, 2026<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | Total Development Value<\/span><\/td>\n | AED 62 billion<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | Site Area<\/span><\/td>\n | Approximately 22 million square feet<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | Sales Status<\/span><\/td>\n | Individual unit names, layouts, prices, and payment plans not yet announced<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n | <\/p>\n HAYAT by Dubai South<\/h3>\n
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