Major contracts have been awarded for the construction of Dubai’s future mega-airport at Al Maktoum International (DWC), marking an important step in the development of this ambitious project, confirmed Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group.
He confirmed that work began following the Dubai government’s approval to proceed with the $35 billion passenger terminal almost a year ago. The aim, he noted, is to ensure the transition is “smooth and seamless on opening day.”
When asked about the contracts awarded for the airport’s construction, Sheikh Ahmed responded, “Yes, we have awarded them. However, I prefer not to discuss the specific contracts at this time. This is something better suited for our airport engineering team to handle. Perhaps they can give you a more detailed update soon about the exact work underway. But construction has started.”
Describing the DWC project as highly complex due to its enormous scale, Sheikh Ahmed explained the significant engagement with stakeholders, including Emirates, flydubai, dnata, regulators, and over 100 other airlines operating in Dubai. He emphasised the critical role of the Operational Readiness and Airport Transfer (ORAT) programme, pointing out that staff training alone could take up to 12 months ahead of the terminal’s opening.
Sheikh Ahmed also provided updates on the transition of Emirates and other Dubai carriers to the planned passenger terminal at DWC during a media interaction at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM).
The passenger terminal, approved by the Dubai government last year, will have the capacity to handle 260 million passengers annually. The terminal is currently slated to open in 2033.
