The Dubai Aerospace Engineering Projects Agency (DAEP) has officially announced the selection of China Harbour Engineering Co., Ltd. to undertake the infrastructure project for the first phase expansion of Al Maktoum International Airport. This significant cooperation marks the second participation of Chinese infrastructure companies in the construction of globally iconic transportation hubs, demonstrating their core competitiveness in the international high-end construction market. The project plans to construct five parallel runways, five terminal buildings, and 400 boarding gates. After completion, the annual passenger throughput will reach 260 million, the cargo capacity will be 12 million tons, and the area will cover 70 square kilometers. It will become five times the size of the existing Dubai International Airport and is expected to become the world's largest aviation hub.

Three major sections are advancing simultaneously to create an intelligent transportation system

China Harbour will simultaneously carry out bottom structure construction in multiple sections such as the West Terminal and the first, second, and third waiting halls. Among them, the West Terminal will be built into a modern intelligent terminal with seven floors and a total area of 800000 square meters, with an estimated annual passenger throughput capacity of 45 million. As an important supporting facility of the project, an Automated People Mover (APM) system with 14 stations will be constructed, which will run through the entire airport apron and connect various terminals and waiting halls. The first phase of the project will first construct four underground stations, utilizing advanced underground rail technology to ensure efficient and convenient passenger transportation. The entire airport construction project will be implemented in three phases, with the first phase expected to be completed and put into operation by 2032.

Multiple projects will be coordinated and upgraded comprehensively within ten years

At present, the first phase of the project has been fully launched. In May 2025, DAEP signed a $272 million contract with Binladin Contracting Group in the United Arab Emirates for the construction of a second runway at the airport, with Tristar E&C in Abu Dhabi responsible for the preliminary construction of the terminal building. According to the latest plan approved in April 2024, Dubai plans to smoothly transfer all aviation operations from Dubai International Airport to Al Maktoum International Airport within the next decade. This strategic shift is expected to drive the housing demand of approximately one million people in the surrounding area of the airport, and promote the construction of related supporting facilities, further enhancing Dubai's comprehensive competitiveness as an international aviation hub.

After ten years of planning adjustments, Chinese construction enterprises have demonstrated outstanding strength

The expansion project of Al Maktoum Airport is a long-term strategic project that has been planned for ten years. The project was first launched in 2014 and was originally planned to build the world's largest airport with an annual throughput of 255 million people by 2050. In the process of implementation, the project has adjusted the progress for many times due to the regional oil price fluctuations, the preparation for the 2020 World Expo and the impact of the COVID-19. In April 2024, the Dubai government finally approved the new design plan and implementation schedule. Keywords: foreign construction news, international news

China Harbour stood out in fierce competition and successfully won the bid for the core infrastructure project, fully demonstrating the comprehensive strength of Chinese construction enterprises in super large international engineering projects, including technological innovation capabilities, project management experience, and international operation level, marking a new breakthrough for Chinese construction enterprises in the global high-end infrastructure market. Editor/Yang Beihua