The reported award adds momentum to Al Maktoum International Airport’s $35 billion expansion, as Dubai prepares further contracts and a major workforce increase ahead of its 2032 opening target.
UAE, Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects (DAEP) has reportedly selected a joint venture between China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) and Abu Dhabi-based Tristar Engineering & Construction for an estimated AED10 billion ($2.7 billion) construction package at Al Maktoum International Airport.
The reported package covers substructure works within the airport’s expansion programme, according to industry reports. Its precise scope has yet to be independently confirmed.
From Investment Approval to Major Contracts
Dubai approved the AED128 billion ($35 billion) airport expansion in April 2024, targeting annual capacity of 260 million passengers when fully developed.
By June 2026, DAEP reported more than AED13 billion in construction contracts under execution, alongside plans to award further packages exceeding AED55 billion.
The newly reported AED10 billion package is substantial relative to that earlier construction portfolio, although the figures represent different reporting dates and should not be combined as confirmed cumulative spending.
In August, contractors confirmed an award for the airport’s automated people-mover system, another major component of the expansion.
Delivery Pressure Builds Ahead of 2032
The construction workforce, estimated at 9,000 in June, is expected to reach approximately 120,000 at peak activity, according to DAEP.
That expansion highlights the scale of labour mobilisation, contractor coordination and infrastructure delivery required to meet the planned start of operations in 2032.
Remaining procurement includes terminal structures, baggage-handling systems, façades and supporting utilities, creating opportunities for contractors and suppliers.
However, planned awards are not signed contracts, and contract values do not represent expenditure already incurred or revenue already recognised.
The scale of the latest reported award underscores Dubai’s growing reliance on large, internationally backed construction ventures to deliver an airport expansion that will reshape the emirate’s aviation infrastructure.
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