Dubai has secured a significant worldwide endorsement for its aviation future after UK Export Finance (UKEF) issued a $3.5bn Expression of Curiosity to help UK participation within the $35bn enlargement of Al Maktoum Worldwide – Dubai World Central (DWC).
The announcement, made at Dubai Airshow 2025, marks the primary worldwide expression of curiosity of its sort for the mega-project.
Offered throughout a ceremony on the Dubai South stand, the Expression of Curiosity was handed over by Sir Chris Bryant, UK Minister for Commerce, to Khalifa Al Zaffin, Government Chairman of Dubai Aviation Metropolis Company and Dubai Aviation Engineering Tasks, and Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports.
Al Maktoum Worldwide – Dubai World Central
The event alerts rising worldwide engagement in one of many world’s largest and most bold airport infrastructure programmes.
Sir Chris Bryant stated: “This expression of curiosity for as much as S$3.5bn introduced by UK Export Finance marks one other important milestone and reinforces the UK’s long-standing partnership with Dubai and its pioneering world-class infrastructure tasks.
“Al Maktoum Worldwide Airport is ready to redefine the way forward for international aviation, creating important alternatives for British suppliers to showcase their cutting-edge capabilities.”
Khalifa Al Zaffin stated: “The Al Maktoum Worldwide Airport enlargement is being delivered by a structured programme that integrates superior engineering, resilient design and long-term planning.
“This step brings valued worldwide help to a mission constructed on clear technical requirements and a disciplined supply framework.
“Our focus is on creating the infrastructure that can unlock the subsequent stage of Dubai’s aviation progress, reinforcing our management’s imaginative and prescient to make Dubai the aviation capital of the world.”
Suzanne Al Anani stated: “This Expression of Curiosity letter displays sturdy worldwide confidence within the disciplined, engineering-led supply of the Al Maktoum Worldwide Airport enlargement. Because the grasp developer and engineering authority for this mission, DAEP is targeted on clear specs, modular building, sustainability, and resilient infrastructure that can serve Dubai for many years.
“We welcome the chance for certified UK suppliers to take part by our procurement frameworks as we scale the subsequent phases of works.”
Dubai Airports enlargement
Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, stated: “The Al Maktoum Worldwide Airport enlargement mission represents a once-in-a-generation alternative to rethink how an airport ought to work and the way the journey of the longer term ought to really feel.
“This Expression of Curiosity letter provides additional worldwide momentum to a mission that can remodel capability, join communities and ship a brand new degree of expertise for tons of of hundreds of thousands of travellers.
“The long-term imaginative and prescient for Al Maktoum Worldwide Airport is obvious and the help introduced at present strengthens our capability to understand it.”
The enlargement of Al Maktoum Worldwide Airport is designed to serve Dubai’s aviation wants for the subsequent 50 years.
Preliminary improvement is predicted to return on-line within the early 2030s, accommodating as much as 150m passengers yearly.
Lengthy-term plans will enhance complete capability to 260m passengers. The programme emphasises innovation, sustainability and built-in transport techniques, reinforcing Dubai’s standing as a worldwide hub for individuals, commerce and future mobility.
