Dubai's Al Maktoum International Airport which will be the world’s largest when completed is slated to open in the month of June but only for cargo purpose. The passenger terminal is scheduled to be ready by the end of the year and will enter service at the beginning of the summer season in 2011, towards the end of March.
The airport will have 6 runways, 18 cargo terminals of 12 million tons and 4 passenger terminals which will be able to accommodate 160 million arrivals a year. Dubai is expected to receive 150 million passengers by 2030 at its two airports. The new airport will cover 140 square kilometers and is 40 kilometres away from the current Dubai International Airport which is the busiest in Middle East. Dubai International received 40.9 million passengers last year and is being expanded to accommodate 75 million by 2012.
"Dubai will no longer be a single airport city. We are not just creating the largest airport in the world. (It is) also the best," said Paul Griffith, CEO, Dubai Airport.
