Dubai unveils plans for the world's biggest airport

Dubai has unveiled plans for what will be the world's largest airport.

Once complete, Al Makhtoum International Airport will be capable of handling 260 million passengers per year. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, vice president and ruler of Dubai said.

It will be five times the size of the current Dubai International Airport, which is already ranked top globally for international passenger traffic, travel news portal Skift reported.

Dubai officials said airport operations would be switched from the current Dubai International Airport to Al Maktoum International Airport “within the next 10 years.”

“Dubai will be the world’s airport, its port, its urban hub, and its new global centre,” Sheikh Mohammed said.

The rulers has approved the designs for the new terminals and given the go ahead for the commencement of construction for the project. It is expected to cost $US35 billion.

The airport will be able to accommodate 400 aircraft gates and feature five parallel runways, according to an official statement.

“DXB (Dubai International Airport) will continue to serve as the primary hub, meeting the needs of 100 million plus guests over the next few years as phase two of DWC (Dubai World Central - Al Maktoum International Airport) takes shape," Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, said in a statement.

"We will be actively collaborating with our airline customers, our strategic partners, the Dubai Government, and our stakeholders to bring this visionary project to fruition.

“There isn’t really the space to be able to add additional runways or terminals at DXB so all eyes are on the potential future of another airport development at DWC.”

Dubai has also set an ambitious target of 40 million hotel guests annually by 2031.

“The new airport… will prepare the ground for the next 40 years of anticipated growth in Dubai’s aviation sector. It will respond to the Hub Airline ambitious plans in terms of fleet acquisition and passenger growth,” said Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed, chairman and CEO of Emirates Airline and Group.