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Al Maktoum International Airport is a major new airport currently nearing completion in Jebel Ali, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports Co has said that Al Maktoum International will open on June 27. The company is in advanced talks with airlines, both passenger and cargo, across the globe to start operations from the new airport, he said. The new airport, which will be the largest in the world, is part of the $33bn Dubai World Central development in Jebel Ali. This will be the main part of Dubai World Central, a planned residential, commercial and logistics complex scheme. World Central is the world's first truly integrated logistics platform, with most transport modes, logistics and value added services, including manufacturing and assembly, in a single bonded and Free Zone environment.
When completed, the airport will have an annual cargo capacity of 12 million tonnes, more than three times that of Memphis International Airport, today's largest cargo hub, and a passenger capacity between 120 million and 150 million per year - more than Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (90 million in 2008), currently the world's busiest passenger airport.
Designed for the future, Al Maktoum International Airport proposes to handle all next-generation aircraft, including the Airbus A380 super-jumbo. Up to four aircraft will be able to land simultaneously, 24 hours a day, minimising in-air queuing.
Dubai World Central will include: 6 parallel runways, 4.5 kilometres in length, each separated by a distance of 800 metres. Three passenger terminals including two luxury facilities; one dedicated to airlines of The Emirates Group, the second to other carriers, and the third dedicated to low cost carriers. Multiple concourses, 16 cargo terminals with a 12 million ton capacity. Executive and Royal jet centres, Hotels and shopping malls.
Support and maintenance facilities include over 100,000 parking spaces (probably underground) for airport staff and passengers and will be linked to the existing Dubai International Airport with a further proposal to high speed express rail systems. The massive airport will also be served by the Dubai Metro and a dedicated Dubai World Central light railway.
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