Expansion of al-Maktoum International at Dubai World Central will be completed by 2022

The $32 billion (Dh117.52 billion) expansion of Al Maktoum International at Dubai World Central (DWC) will be completed by the first quarter of 2022, according to comments published in a Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DACC) newsletter.

"The phase is scheduled for completion in [the first quarter] of 2022, by which time we expect [Al Maktoum International's] annual passenger capacity to increase from the current five million passengers to 130 million,” Khalifa Al Zaffin, Executive Chairman of the Dubai Aviation City Corporation (DACC), said in the latest edition of Via Dubai.

The expansion of Al Maktoum International was announced in September last year in a statement from Dubai Airports, the manager and operator of airports in the emirate. At the time, it was stated that the phase one expansion will increase capacity to 120 million.

Earlier this year, Paul Griffiths, Chief Executive of Dubai Airports, and Tim Clark, President of Emirates airline, separately said the expansion would be completed by 2025. Emirates is expected to shift over its operations from Dubai International, currently the world's busiest airport for international passenger traffic, once the phase one expansion is complete.

"The master planning and design activities of the airport are nearing completion. In terms of the airports overarching design, we have begun implementing the concept theme ‘Al Jawhara' — the jewel — as identified by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, [Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai], Al Zaffin told Via Dubai.

Al Maktoum International is expected to ultimately be capable of handling 250 million passengers a year.

Al Zaffin also told Via Dubai that Al Maktoum International will be expanded from its current annual capacity "from the current five million to seven million by early 2016.”

Al Maktoum International, located in the emirates south near the Abu Dhabi border, opened to passenger traffic in late 2013.