Middle East airports, global hubs

The news may have come as a surprise to the Gulf air transport industry last April. The transfer of all traffic from Dubai's current airport to Dubai World Central (also known as Dubai Al Maktoum) is planning one of the world's first airports into a new dimension. This comes as a surprise, given that the current Emirati hub, with its capacity for 90 million passengers, seemed to know no limits. But it is true that with 87 million passengers expected by 2023, the hub is approaching saturation point...

The launch of gigantic works at Dubai Al Maktoum is characteristic of the ambitions of the entire region. That of asserting itself as the hub for much of the world. Particularly on the Europe-Asia/Middle East axis, as well as between Africa and the rest of the world. Projects to expand terminals or open new airports have become almost routine.

Voyages d'Affaires has compiled a list of the most recently opened infrastructures and gives an overview of the most popular ones. spotlight on forthcoming openings in this part of the world.

The latest

Abu Dhabi Zayed International Airport

It was one of the most eagerly awaited projects in the United Arab Emirates. Originally scheduled to open to the public in 2017, it wasn't until autumn 2023 that the Abu Dhabi Airport Terminal A. The new structure now handles all air traffic for the capital of the United States. A superb terminal designed to handle 45 million passengers. It will eventually be able to handle up to 60 million.

The terminal has over 160 shops and restaurants covering 35,000 m², several private lounges, relaxation areas, a spa and a transit hotel.

Bahrain International Airport

At the end of 2022, Bahrain International Airport, Gulf Air's hub, inaugurated a new terminalThis is in addition to the existing terminal, which has been renovated and extended. The new 220,000m² terminal can handle up to 14 million passengers a year with 24 gates. The hub features 3,300m² of duty-free shops, 21 cafés and restaurants, a spa, a hotel and a lounge for Gulf Air business class passengers.

Jeddah King Abdulaziz International

Terminal 1 of Jeddah International Airport, Saudi Arabia, is a grandiose infrastructure of more than 800,000 m², to be inaugurated in stages between 2018 and 2019. It will accommodate not only Saudia flights, but also the majority of international airlines serving the Saudi metropolis.

With a capacity of 30 million passengers, the terminal stands out for its beautiful architecture but remains hopelessly empty when it comes to passenger services and attractions!

Doha Hamad International

Celebrating its tenth anniversary this year, Doha Hamad International Airport has seen its capacity to nearly 60 million passengers. Eventually, more than 95 million travellers will pass through one of the most beautiful airports in the Gulf.

At the end of 2022, the airport inaugurated an extension, the Central Building between halls D and E. Its pièce de résistance is "Orchard", a giant tropical garden with some 300 trees and a 268 m high waterfall. The structure also includes a Qatar Airways Al Mourjan business class lounge and more than 11,000 m2 of shops and restaurants.

New Muscat International

Oman's main air gateway, Muscat's new terminal, inaugurated in 2018, enables the Sultanate to handle annual traffic of 24 million passengers. With the possibility of expanding the infrastructure and double capacity in the future. The terminal, with 29 aircraft contact points, covers an area of 420,000 m².

Some 6,000 m² of duty-free shops, restaurants, bars, lounges for Oman Air and a 90-room hotel await passengers...

Hubs under construction

Among the major infrastructures under development over the next decade, three projects attract attention These include the new airport complex at Dubai Al Maktoum International, the new terminal at Kuwait and, finally, the future Kuwait airport. King Salman International in Riyadh, which will encompass the existing King Khalid International hub. Other projects include the expansion of Sharjah airport in the UAE and the construction of an international airport at N.E.O.M, the new resort destination in Saudi Arabia. These are major developments, but with a more limited impact on a global scale.

Dubai Al Maktoum International

It will be the future turntable of the Emirate of Dubai, on the border with the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and 50km from the centre of the metropolis. Dubai World Central airport, now Dubai Al Maktoum International, has in fact been in existence for over a decade. Inaugurated in 2010, it was originally designed as a cargo airport. All the cargo airlines are already based there. At the same time, the airport has a small passenger activity. Despite a terminal designed for 25 million passengers, traffic has not exceeded 600,000 passengers in 2023. Most of this traffic is generated by low-cost and charter airlines. The airport will be served by Transavia from Lyon, Marseille and Toulouse by the end of March 2025.

Nevertheless, the future looks bright for Al Maktoum International. In April 2024, the Dubai government announced its intention to make the airport the only mega-airport in the UAE. With, on the horizon, opening in 2030. Once again, the future infrastructure will be superlative. The remodelled airport, covering an area of 70 km², is expected to handle 150 million passengers. This could rise to 260 million passengers over the coming decades.

The new airport will have five runways - four of which will operate independently - West and East terminals, four satellite halls with more than 400 aircraft contact points. An express metro will link it to Dubai city centre. The authorities will be investing 35 billion dollars to turn it into the megahub of the century. And place it at the heart of the future new city of Dubai South.

Kuwait International

More discreet than its neighbours, the Emirate of Kuwait nonetheless has big ambitions for its airport. Launched in 2017, a new terminal will open in 2025The new 700,000 m2 terminal offers comfort and space. Designed by the architectural firm Foster+Partners, the triangular-shaped terminal will be able to handle 25 million passengers in its initial phase.

Around the building, with its 25m-high canopy and filtered light to reduce the heat, around fifty aircraft will be parked. Inside, journeys will be short in an air terminal whose architecture is uncluttered but very local. The main attraction will be the waterfalls surrounding the baggage carousels.

Ryad King Salman International

While Dubai Al Maktoum will have the largest passenger airport capacity in the world, the future Ryad King Salman International is expected to be its challenger. This mega-project will take shape over the next few years, superimposed on the existing King Khalid International airport. Once again, we're talking about a project of grandiose proportions: 120 million passengers byopening in 2030. It will have six tracks instead of the current two, covering an area of 57km². The metro will also link King Salman to the heart of the Saudi capital. The investment is estimated at nearly 7.5 billion dollars. Around it, the government plans to build an aerocity, offering offices, hotels, shopping centres and housing.

Are so many hubs really necessary?

One might wonder about the need for so many major hubs one or two hours away - or car to Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah - from each other. The idea is not far-fetched, however. Europe has a similar configuration of major hubs on an equally small scale. Or on the East Coast of the United States.

The main difference lies in the population scales. The GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) lists just under 60 million inhabitants for its six member countries. If we add Iraq, Iran and Yemen, we reach 210 million inhabitants. This is still a far cry from the 335 million in the United States and the 450 million in the European Union.

However, the strength of the Gulf States lies in their geographical position and the unconditional support of their governments for their airlines. The latter have imposed the idea that the Gulf was the aerial heart of the planet. Particularly on the West-Asia axis and, in part, between the West and Africa.

This positioning has been further strengthened by the fact that many European airlines have reduced their presence in the Middle and Far East in recent years. And it is also benefiting from the total closure of Russian airspace to virtually all Western airlines since the war in Ukraine. This is borne out by the passenger numbers at all the Gulf airports.