How Giant Machines Build a $35B Airport in the Desert

Dubai already operates the world’s busiest airport for international passengers. Now it is investing nearly $35 billion to build something dramatically larger. Al Maktoum International Airport is planned to eventually handle more than 260 million passengers and 12 million tonnes of cargo every year. With five parallel runways, enormous passenger terminals, automated transport systems and an entire airport city developing around it, the project could transform Dubai’s position in global aviation. But constructing the infrastructure may not be the hardest part. In this cinematic documentary, we explore why Dubai International Airport is approaching its physical limits, how the expanded Al Maktoum International Airport is designed to operate, why Dubai South is essential to the project, and whether global travel demand can grow fast enough to justify an airport of this scale. CHAPTERS 00:00 Dubai’s next aviation gamble 00:45 The limits of Dubai International 02:15 Al Maktoum already exists 04:10 Engineering a five-runway airport 06:40 Building an airport city 08:30 Moving an aviation ecosystem 10:30 Why Dubai expects demand to grow 12:20 The $35 billion risk 14:30 Could it become the world’s busiest? Subscribe to Built to Run for cinematic documentaries about megaprojects, engineering, infrastructure and the systems shaping our future. Do you think Dubai can attract enough passengers to justify an airport designed for more than 260 million travellers a year? #Dubai #AlMaktoumAirport #Megaprojects