Dubai South corridor
Al Ghadeer and the Dubai South Corridor
The world's largest airport is being built 16 minutes from your front door.
The airport
What Is Happening at Al Maktoum International Airport
In April 2024, Dubai's ruler approved the AED 128 billion expansion of Al Maktoum International Airport. The numbers define the scale:
| Detail | Figure |
|---|---|
| Investment | AED 128 billion (USD 34.85 billion) |
| Design capacity | 260 million passengers per year |
| Current DXB capacity | 95 million passengers (2025, world's busiest) |
| Scale vs DXB | Approximately 5x the size |
| Runways | 5 parallel runways |
| Aircraft gates | ~400 |
| Aircraft stands | 430+ |
| Terminals | 2 passenger terminals, 7 concourses |
| Internal transit | 14-station Automated People Mover |
| Rail connections | Etihad Rail integration, Blue Line Metro extension |
| Architect | Coop Himmelb(l)au |
| Project manager | AECOM |
This is not a proposal. The architect is appointed, the project manager is working, earthworks and underground infrastructure are underway. Phase 1 opens by 2032.
Emirates
Emirates Is Moving — All of It
Emirates airline has confirmed it will relocate its entire hub operation from Dubai International Airport to Al Maktoum. Emirates chairman Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed confirmed the airline's long-term alignment with the project.
This is not a partial shift. Emirates uses a hub-and-spoke model: a passenger flying London to Sydney connects in Dubai. Splitting the fleet between two airports would break that model. The entire operation moves together.
What that means in practice:
- 12,000+ cabin crew relocating to the Dubai South corridor
- Thousands of ground staff, engineers, and logistics workers
- A dedicated Emirates Zone within the airport for maintenance and operations
- Full relocation expected between 2033 and 2035
These are workers and families who will need housing within commuting distance of the new airport. The question for property buyers is which communities are positioned to absorb that demand.
Position
16 Minutes — Al Ghadeer's Position
Al Ghadeer sits on the E311 Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road, 16 minutes from Al Maktoum International Airport. That makes it the closest established freehold villa community to the future airport that offers mid-market pricing.
Distance comparison:
| Community | Drive to Al Maktoum Airport | Starting price | Freehold |
|---|---|---|---|
| Al Ghadeer Gardens | ~16 min | From AED 2M (Phase 2) | Yes, all nationalities |
| Dubai South (Emaar) | ~5-10 min | From ~AED 800K (apartments) | Yes |
| Bloom Living | ~30-40 min | From ~AED 1.4M (townhouses) | Yes |
| Yas Acres | ~35-45 min | From ~AED 3.5M (resale) | Yes |
| Al Reeman | ~25 min | From ~AED 1.3M (townhouses) | Yes |
Al Ghadeer's advantage is not just proximity. It is an established community with thousands of residents, operational amenities (pools, sports courts, Harvest hub, retail), and a confirmed British curriculum school opening in 2030 — two years before Emirates begins its move. A family relocating for an Emirates position in 2033 would move into a community that already works, not one still under construction.
The city around it
What Dubai South Becomes
Dubai South is the 145 sq km planned city being built around Al Maktoum International Airport. Key facts:
- Designed for a population of up to 1 million people
- Combines aviation, logistics, commercial, and residential districts
- Already operational with logistics, aviation, and residential zones
- Adjacent to Expo City Dubai (permanent district on the former Expo 2020 site)
- Expected to generate over 25% of Dubai's GDP by 2030
- Over 1 million aviation and logistics jobs projected
- Property prices in Dubai South rose 20-80% in 2025
The corridor between Al Ghadeer and Dubai South is one of the UAE's fastest-evolving growth axes. Al Ghadeer sits at the Abu Dhabi end of this corridor: close enough to benefit from Dubai South's employment base, far enough to offer the space, greenery, and community depth that a 145 sq km airport city does not prioritise.
Dates
Timeline — What Happens When
-
2024
AED 128 billion expansion approved by Dubai's ruler. Architect and project manager appointed. Earthworks begin.
-
2025-2027
Underground infrastructure: baggage systems, rail spine, utilities. Dubai South residential and commercial development accelerates.
-
2028-2032
Terminal 1 and Concourse 1 completed. Airport capacity reaches 150 million passengers. Testing and shadow operations begin.
-
2030
Al Ghadeer British School opens (2,800 students, British curriculum). Community infrastructure fully operational before the airport transition.
-
2032
Phase 1 of Al Maktoum International opens. Emirates begins operational transition. CEO Paul Griffiths has described it as "the largest transition in history."
-
2033-2035
Emirates and flydubai complete migration from DXB. 12,000+ cabin crew and thousands of ground staff fully relocated to Dubai South corridor.
-
2040+
Full buildout to 260 million passengers, 5 runways, all concourses operational.
Al Ghadeer Gardens Phase 2 is selling now from AED 2 million. Al Ghadeer Parks registration is open. Both will be fully established communities before the airport transition begins.
Register
Position yourself in the Dubai South corridor
Register for Al Ghadeer Parks details when Aldar releases them, or ask about Gardens Phase 2 availability now.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
- When will Emirates move to Al Maktoum International Airport?
- Emirates has confirmed it will relocate its entire hub operation from Dubai International Airport to Al Maktoum between 2032 and 2035. The AED 128 billion airport expansion was approved in April 2024, with Phase 1 completion expected by 2032.
- How far is Al Ghadeer from Al Maktoum International Airport?
- Approximately 16 minutes by car via the E311 Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road.
- How big will Al Maktoum International Airport be?
- Design capacity is 260 million passengers per year across five runways and approximately 400 gates. For comparison, Dubai International Airport handled 95 million passengers in 2025.
- What is Dubai South?
- A 145 sq km planned city around Al Maktoum International Airport, designed for up to 1 million residents. It combines aviation, logistics, commercial, and residential zones and is expected to generate over 25% of Dubai's GDP by 2030.
- Will Al Ghadeer property values increase because of the airport?
- This page does not make price predictions. What is factual: Al Ghadeer is the closest established freehold villa community to Al Maktoum International Airport at a mid-market price point. Dubai South property prices rose 20-80% in 2025 as the expansion was confirmed. Al Ghadeer Phase 2 currently starts from AED 2 million.
- Can I buy property in Al Ghadeer as a foreigner?
- Yes. Al Ghadeer is a designated freehold zone open to all nationalities. Purchases from AED 2 million qualify for the 10-year UAE Golden Visa.