Dubai unveiled plans for Al Maktoum Airport to handle 260 million passengers.
The announcement came at the Mohammed bin Rashid Leadership Forum 2026, hosted at the Dubai World Trade Centre, where officials presented a suite of projects spanning aviation, mobility, finance and tourism.
Airport capacity and passenger experience
Khalifa Al Zaffin highlighted that the future Al Maktoum International Airport is designed for up to 260 million annual passengers. He stressed that the goal is not merely to build the world’s largest airport but to redesign the passenger journey using technology that works behind the scenes.
“The best technologies are those you do not feel,”
— Khalifa Al Zaffin
By embedding seamless digital processes, the emirate aims to cut waiting times and simplify travel, turning the airport into a model of efficiency for the region.
Transport network and autonomous initiatives
Mattar Al Tayer outlined a three‑dimensional transport vision covering sky, land and underground. Dubai currently records more than 11 million journeys daily – roughly 7,000 every minute – and the daytime population is expected to double by 2040, putting extra strain on existing networks.
The Roads and Transport Authority targets autonomous transport to account for one in four journeys by 2030. Air‑taxi trials, which began in 2016, will see the first dedicated station open in 2026, while studies continue on an integrated underground system capable of moving people, goods and services.
Among the rail projects, the Dh34‑billion Metro Gold Line will expand capacity, and artificial‑intelligence tools are projected to deliver output comparable to 500 employees, boosting overall productivity.
Financial district and trade expansion
Dubai also announced a Dh100‑billion financial district as part of its next development phase. Essa Kazim traced the emirate’s commercial rise to historic policies such as the 1901 customs‑duty exemption, emphasizing that growth has been cumulative.
The strategy builds on DP World’s global network, which spans six continents, operates in more than 80 countries, employs over 125,000 people and handles around 10 percent of global container trade. By strengthening these links, Dubai aims to cement its role as a premier trading hub.