World’s largest sun canopy, monorail, tropical forest: first look at Dubai’s new airport

Visitors at the Airport Show in Dubai were treated to a detailed look at the world’s largest sun canopy and a tropical forest – all set to feature at the future Al Maktoum International Airport (AMIA), reported Khaleej Times earlier this week.

When completed, it is slated to be the largest in the world, and will boast its own transport system, mini-forests, green zones, entertainment hub and other offerings such as food, beverage, and retail, according to details provided by Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects (DAEP) – responsible for the design of the new passenger terminal.

The 23rd Airport Show – set to end today – brought together experts from the aviation industry to showcase the latest technologies on offer under the theme, ‘Sustainability and Innovation’, according to information available on the Airport Show website.

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At the show, DEAP gave a detailed preview the world’s largest airport.

One of the striking features of the airport will be an elevated rail or automated people mover (APM) system that will move through an indoor tropical forest carrying passengers between terminals.

Giant LED screens will also project various landscapes and marine habitats.

“DWC is designed to give passengers comfort, recreation and mobility at the highest level,” noted DAEP in a two-and-half-minute video, according to Khaleej Times.

The new airport will also use advanced biometric technologies, such as modern face recognition to avoid queues while entering departure gates, added DAEP.

Last month, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum announced plans for a new passenger terminal in Al Maktoum International airport worth 128 billion AED ($34.85 billion) on X.

Set to accommodate up to 260 million passengers, it will be five times the size of Dubai International Airport, added the post.

Passengers will be able to check-in their luggage from hotels, designated city desks, or even from their homes prior to arriving at the airport.

Last month, Dubai International Airport (DXB) was named the world’s busiest in terms of international travelers, for the tenth consecutive time.

Total passenger traffic for the first nine months of 2023 at Dubai International (DXB), among the world’s busiest, stood at 64.5 million, up 39.3% compared to the prior year.

In 2023, Dubai also saw a record year in terms of tourism, welcoming over 17 million international tourists, according to the emirate’s Department of Economy and Tourism.

Dubai is one of several cities likely to join the ‘100 million passengers club’ in 2024, added an earlier Khaleej Times report, citing data from the Centre for Aviation (CAPA), a market intelligence firm for the aviation and travel industry.