UK Export Finance Commits $3.5 Billion To Al Maktoum Airport Expansion

Dubai (PlantAndEquipment.com) - UK Export Finance has announced a $3.5 billion Expression of Interest to help UK firms participate in the $35 billion development of Al Maktoum International Airport at Dubai World Central. The announcement was made during the Dubai Airshow 2025 and is the first foreign statement of interest in the megaproject.

The development demonstrates great worldwide trust in Dubai's long-term aviation strategy and the level of investment anticipated for the next phase of airport facilities. It also demonstrates increased worldwide interest in one of the largest aircraft development projects presently ongoing.

The airport expansion will provide facilities to accommodate the next 50 years of aviation development. The first phase, which is projected to open in the early 2030s, is designed to handle up to 150 million people per year, with long-term capacity eventually reaching 260 million passengers. The project aims to build a next-generation global gateway via sophisticated engineering, modular construction, sustainability, and integrated transportation systems.

The Expression of Interest affirms possible assistance for UK suppliers via the project's procurement system, as Dubai prepares to scale the future construction stages. The decision also strengthens further commercial collaboration between the UK and the UAE in the aviation and infrastructure sectors.