Al Maktoum International Airport Will Feature Underground Train System

The announcement was made by Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, during the Arabian Travel Market at Dubai World Trade Centre. With an expected capacity of 260 million passengers annually, the scale of the new airport – also known as Dubai World Central – will require a fast and efficient internal transport network to connect eight satellite terminal buildings.

Unlike the short shuttle trips at Dubai International Airport, train journeys at Al Maktoum International are expected to take 15 to 20 minutes, with seated carriages providing comfort over longer distances. Griffiths compared the scale to central London train journeys, highlighting the need for quick connections and minimal wait times.

The underground system will serve as a key feature in ensuring smooth transfers between check-in, baggage drop-off, security, and boarding areas. Artificial intelligence will be integrated to automate routing and optimise passenger flow, reducing congestion and improving overall airport efficiency.

The new terminal will eventually include over 400 aircraft gates, five runways with advanced operational standards, and five passenger terminals, all spread over a 70 square kilometre site. To help with wayfinding, the airport will also include visual reference points to show how far passengers need to travel to their gates.

Phase one of the Dhs128 billion project is scheduled for completion within the next 10 years and is expected to accommodate 150 million passengers annually. Once fully operational, Al Maktoum International will replace Dubai International Airport as the emirate’s main air hub.