Al Maktoum Airport & Dubai South Property Update 2026

Dubai's new airport is no longer just a plan. Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai South is in what its owner calls a "large-scale construction phase", with a runway finished, tens of thousands of piles in the ground and the first big contracts for terminals and the people mover now awarded. As of 9 November 2026, the first phase is still targeted for 2032.

For buyers, the airport matters because it sits at the centre of Dubai South, one of the busiest areas for new homes in the city. Here is where construction stands, what the latest research says about Dubai South's housing market, and the risks to weigh before buying near a project that is still years from opening.

Al Maktoum Airport at a glance

On schedule for 2032. Dubai said on 15 June 2026 that the expansion is on track, with the first phase targeted to begin operations in 2032 [The National, Gulf News].
AED 13 billion of contracts under way. More than AED 55 billion of further contracts are to be awarded by the end of 2026 [The National, 15 June 2026].
Built for 260 million passengers a year and 12 million tonnes of air cargo once complete, with five parallel runways, two passenger terminals, seven concourses and more than 430 aircraft stands [The National, Gulf News].
Recent awards: the automated people mover (reported 20 August 2026) and a roughly AED 10 billion substructure package (reported 9 October 2026) [MEED].
Dubai South sales are running ahead of 2025. 12,428 homes were sold from January to August 2026, against 9,788 in all of 2025 [Anarock, via Khaleej Times, 26 October 2026].

Passenger terminal at Al Maktoum International Airport, Dubai South — Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai South, which is being expanded to replace Dubai International over time. Photo: Marlin Le, Wikimedia Commons, public domain (CC0)

What has been built so far

According to The National and Gulf News, which reported Dubai's 15 June 2026 update, the work completed or under way includes:

A second runway, now complete, which allows the existing runway to be rehabilitated.
More than 17,000 concrete piles installed and over 45 million cubic metres excavated.
More than 10 million work hours logged, with activity speeding up over the previous 15 months.
A site workforce of about 9,000, expected to rise to around 120,000 at peak construction.

The long-term plan is for the new airport to take over from Dubai International (DXB), which Dubai Airports describes as nearing capacity. Officials say they are working towards "a smooth and carefully managed transition of operations". In the meantime, DXB is receiving upgrades, including a new access bridge to Terminal 3 and road improvements serving Terminals 1 and 3.

The latest contract awards

The big packages are now being let, which is the clearest sign the project is moving from groundwork to the airport buildings themselves:

Automated people mover. MEED reported on 20 August 2026 that a team of Japan's Mitsubishi Corporation and India's Larsen & Toubro confirmed a design-and-build contract. The system will have four underground stations in the first phase and 14 in the full airport.
Concourse substructure. On 9 October 2026 MEED reported that Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects selected a joint venture of China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation and Tristar Engineering & Construction for an estimated AED 10 billion (US$2.7 billion) package. MEED places it in the first phase.
Still to come. Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects plans more than AED 55 billion of awards by the end of 2026, including substructure works for the Western Passenger Terminal, a fourth concourse and the baggage-handling system.

Contract values in the trade press are often estimates, so treat them as indicative until the developer or owner confirms them. We will update this article as awards are announced.

Dubai South property market: what the research shows

Anarock's Dubai South Residential Micro-Market Report (September 2026), reported by Khaleej Times and The Federal on 26 October 2026, is the most detailed recent look at the area. It covers 2020 to August 2026:

Sales: 12,428 residential transactions worth AED 15.9 billion in January to August 2026, against 9,788 transactions worth AED 19.6 billion in the whole of 2025.
Price: an average of AED 1,656 per sq ft in January to August 2026, up from AED 650 in 2020.
Smaller homes: studios made up 45% of sales (19.5% in 2025) and one-bedrooms 31%. The average transaction fell to AED 1.28 million from a 2023 peak of AED 2.57 million. Anarock says this reflects smaller units, not a market-wide price correction.
Off-plan: 94% of transaction volume, against 73% in 2020. Ready-home resales were under 6%.
Rents: average annual rent of AED 82,063 in January to August 2026, up from AED 34,534 in 2020.

Anarock's own run-rate projection of about AED 23.9 billion of sales for 2026 is a directional estimate, not a forecast.

Supply: the number to watch

The same report counts 38,116 homes scheduled for handover in Dubai South between 2027 and 2029, with the peak of 16,094 in 2028. That is more than 3.5 times the 10,813 homes delivered between 2016 and August 2026, and about 85% of the pipeline is apartments.

Anarock says this concentrated delivery period "will test absorption", and warns that rental yields could compress in 2026 and 2027 if property values rise faster than rents. It put the 2025 average gross yield for Dubai South apartments at 4.3% before service charges, vacancy periods and transaction costs. That is a past average, not an expectation for any particular home.

What it means for buyers and investors

The airport is a long-term story. The first phase is targeted for 2032, and Anarock notes that planned capacity is not operating capacity and that timelines can change. Buy a home you would be happy with today, with the airport as a possible extra rather than the whole case.
Most buying is off-plan. With 94% of sales off-plan, buyers carry developer delivery risk. Check the developer's record, the escrow arrangements and the handover date, and read our Dubai investment guide before you commit.
Expect competition from new supply. If thousands of similar studios and one-bedrooms complete in the same two years, landlords may compete on rent, and resales could take longer. Ask what comparable units are renting for now, and what will complete nearby.
Check the transport. The Metro Blue Line and Etihad Rail are both planned to serve the area. See our guides to the Blue Line and to Etihad Rail in Dubai for their status.
See the wider pipeline. Our overview of Dubai's AED 2.1 trillion project pipeline shows how the airport fits alongside the city's other megaprojects.

If you would like an honest view on whether Dubai South suits your goals, tell us what you are looking for and our team will talk it through, with no obligation.

Al Maktoum Airport and Dubai South: quick answers

When will the new Al Maktoum Airport open?

As of 9 November 2026, Dubai says the first phase is on track to begin operations in 2032. Full build-out will take longer.

Will Dubai International Airport close?

The stated plan is for operations to move gradually from DXB to the new airport, which is to become Emirates' home. Officials describe a "carefully managed transition". No closing date has been announced.

How big will the new airport be?

The completed airport is planned to handle 260 million passengers and 12 million tonnes of cargo a year, with five parallel runways and more than 430 aircraft stands.

How many homes are being built in Dubai South?

Anarock counts 38,116 homes scheduled for handover between 2027 and 2029, peaking at 16,094 in 2028.

Does the airport guarantee that Dubai South property prices will rise?

No. Infrastructure can support demand, but prices and rents depend on supply, the economy and each project. Anarock itself warns that yields could compress if supply outpaces demand.

Sources

This article is for general information only and is not financial or investment advice. Figures are from the sources listed, are correct as of 9 November 2026 and may change as the project and the market develop. Property values and rents can fall as well as rise.

Al Maktoum Airport and Dubai South: Construction Update and What It Means for Property