The Al Maktoum International Airport at Dubai South - formerly known as Dubai World Central (DWC) - is one of the largest infrastructure schemes currently under construction globally, according to the 2016 Global Cities Report compiled by property expert Knight Frank.

A 145-sq-km master-planned city, Dubai South is a purpose-built aerotropolis being developed to meet the future needs of the emirate's aviation, tourism, trade and logistics sectors.

Given that the world’s cities are predicted to add 380 million new citizens over the next five years, new mass transit systems, power and utilities, and faster connections to markets will be needed, stated Knight Frank in its report.

The new airport project will help shape the future of the city, generate business clusters and create real estate opportunities, it added.

The selected mega infrastructure projects featured in the report include China’s new railway links to Europe and Singapore, the construction of the Lapsset transportation corridor from Kenya to Ethiopia, the Delhi–Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC), the expansion of Panama and Suez Canals, and the ‘Super Airports’ in Dubai and Singapore.

In 2014, Dubai International overtook London Heathrow as the world’s busiest airport for international passengers – handling around 70 million travellers.

But with the numbers passing through Dubai expected to hit 100 million by 2020, and current scope for expansion at Dubai International limited, Al Maktoum International Airport is being developed as the city’s future super airport.   

"A key word in today’s global cities is connectivity. A four-hour plane ride from Dubai allows access to one-third of the world’s population and an eight-hour ride to two-thirds," remarked Khawar Khan, the research manager at Knight Frank Middle East.  

"In addition, over the next decade, Dubai South is planned to be easily accessible by road, rail and sea. All of this will no doubt increase this location’s appeal for businesses," he added.

Diaa Noufal, the associate partner at Mena Research at Knight Frank, said: "Moreover, while the project is part of a long-term strategic masterplan, it also ties in with the World Expo 2020 that will be hosted at Dubai South and is expected to attract 25 million visitors."

"Our Global Cities 2016 Report positions Dubai’s on its watch list for global opportunities, highlighting Al Maktoum Airport for its anticipated role into the future of the city’s economy in the next decade. The report draws on local infrastructure projects to enhance Dubai’s transportation network to predict a rise in the city’s image as a commercial hub world-wide," stated Noufal.-TradeArabia News Service