The UK government has initiated a $3.5 billion investment in Dubai’s new flagship airport, that once completed will be five times larger than the current Dubai International Airport (DXB).
On November 18, 2025, at the Dubai Airshow, UK Minister for Trade, Sir Chris Bryant presented an ‘Expression of Interest’ letter for a multi-billion-dollar investment in Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC).
The UK Export Finance (UKEF) is looking to secure an investment that ensure British companies can be involved in the $35 billion expansion of the airport, also known as Dubai World Central (DWC).
The airport owners and developers said the UK letter represented the “first international expression of interest of its kind for the DWC mega-project and signals strong global confidence in Dubai’s long-term aviation strategy and economic vision”.
The initial airport development will accommodate up to 150 million passengers annually, with long-term plans extending the airport’s capacity to 260 million passengers. The expanded airport is expected to become operational in the early 2030s.
