Travel
This city begins construction of the largest airport in the world
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum has just announced on X the approval of new passenger terminals at Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) in Dubai.
With a capacity to accommodate up to 260 million passengers annually, the project will include five parallel runways and 400 aircraft gates. With construction set to start immediately, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum said: “The first phase of the project will be completed within ten years.”
The Ruler of Dubai and Prime Minister of the UAE announced this “as part of Dubai Aviation Corporation’s strategy” and hopes the airport will be “the airport of the world, the port, the urban hub and the new global center.”
Located on the outskirts of Dubai, surrounded by an empty desert, the area will also soon be home to well over a million people with plans for an ‘airport city’. DWC will also be the new hub of the UAE’s flagship airline, low-cost carrier Flydubai, and their partner airlines.
Largest airports in the world in 2024
In terms of sheer size, not passenger volume, here are the other largest airports in the world that round out the top five.
King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, Saudi Arabia (DMM): Covering an area of 300 square kilometers, the huge airport actually only receives about 10 million passengers per year.
Denver International Airport (DEN): At 53 square kilometers, it is twice the size of the second largest U.S. airport and includes outdoor areas with views of the Rocky Mountains and the plains of Colorado in the distance.
Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL): With expansion plans to handle up to 100 million passengers per year, the airport currently covers an area of 39 square kilometers and is a major hub for airlines in Malaysia’s capital.
Istanbul Airport (IST): The relatively new airport opened in 2019 and hopes to serve the most passengers per year. With an area of 27.5 square kilometers, the airport is an example of modern design and focused on sustainability.
