Plans are underway to move the operations of the Dubai International Airport to the city-state’s second, sprawling airfield in its southern desert worth $35 billion.

The Dubai ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, on his official X handle on Sunday, announced that the airport, which is the world’s busiest for international travel, would be moved to the new facility within the next 10 years.

The ruler attached his announcement with pictures of the beautiful design of the proposed facility which showed a curving, white terminal beside a waterside.

The Dubai ruler said, “Today, we approved the designs for the new passenger terminals at Al Maktoum International Airport, and commencing construction of the building at a cost of AED 128 billion, as part of Dubai Aviation Corporation’s strategy.’’

He said that the Al Maktoum International Airport which would  enjoy the world’s largest capacity, reaching up to 260 million passengers, and “will be five times the size of the current Dubai International Airport, and all operations at Dubai International Airport will be transferred to it in the coming years.”

“The airport will accommodate 400 aircraft gates and feature five parallel runways. New aviation technologies will be employed for the first time in the aviation sector,” the Sheikh further revealed.

According to him, in the nation’s efforts to build an entire city around the airport in Dubai South, the ruler said the demand for housing for a million people will follow.

He therefore noted that the facility would host the world’s leading companies in the logistics and air transport sectors.

“We are building a new project for future generations, ensuring continuous and stable development for our children and their children in turn. Dubai will be the world’s airport, its port, its urban hub, and its new global center,” he assured.