In recent years, Saudi Arabia’s ambitious giga-projects and socio-economic initiatives under Vision 2030 have dominated the news from the Gulf region. As the largest country in the Arabian Peninsula by surface area, population, and economy, Saudi Arabia’s opening to the wider world has naturally attracted significant global interest and highlighted immense opportunities.
However, the rest of the Arabian Peninsula, particularly Dubai, is also making significant strides towards hyper-modernization and economic growth. Let’s spotlight some of Dubai’s most audacious, by world standards, and already progressing mega-projects.
Palm Jebel Ali
The Palm Jebel Ali, a man-made island conceived shortly after the iconic Palm Jumeirah, remained dormant for more than a decade. Revived in 2023, the project has already seen pre-sales of its first properties. Doubling the area of Palm Jumeirah, Palm Jebel Ali will add 110 kilometers of new beachfront to Dubai, increasing the emirate’s public beaches from 21 kilometers to an impressive 105 kilometers by 2040.
The masterplan emphasizes hospitality, with 80 hotels catering to various tastes and budgets, alongside 8,000 villas and apartments. Additionally, the development promises a diverse range of attractions, including a yacht club, wellness resorts, a sprawling mall, and an iconic tower. As of June 2024, infrastructure contracts have been awarded, marking significant progress. The first two luxury residential complexes with 800 villas already on sale are due for completion in March 2027.
Dubai Islands
Originally envisioned as Palm Deira, the third and largest of Dubai’s palm projects, the development was halted in 2007 and later rebranded as Deira Islands in 2013. Relaunched as Dubai Islands in 2022, the comprehensive masterplan includes five islands connected by a bridge to Dubai’s Deira district. Spanning 17 square kilometers with 21 kilometers of beachfront, the project features 86 resorts and hotels, nine marinas, two golf courses, and 38,000 residential units, along with a mega-mall.
Currently, all urban infrastructure is in place, two hotels are already operational and three residential developments are on sale with first completions planned for Q1 2026.
Al Maktoum International Airport Expansion
The expansion of Al Maktoum International Airport, also known as Dubai World Central (DWC), represents another revival of a grand project.
Since opening in 2010, with one runway and passenger terminal with 26 million annual capacity, has been mainly servicing cargo traffic. It was used as a storage for unused aircraft during COVID lockdowns.
The expansion will add four runways, 400 aircraft stands, and multiple terminals, ultimately accommodating up to 260 million passengers and 12 million tonnes of cargo annually. For context, Atlanta International, the world’s busiest airport, handles 104 million passengers, while Dubai International Airport, which DWC will replace, saw 86 million passengers and 1.8m tonnes of cargo in 2023.
The project, with a budget of USD 35 billion over ten years, also includes the creation of a new mixed-use residential and commercial district around the airport.
The main aviation organisations forecast global passenger air traffic to double by 2040, so this is a great example of Dubai’s forward thinking and taking advantage of its strategic location on international flight paths.
At the same time the replacement of DXB creates space for another mega-project, the urban regeneration of its 17.5 sq km area in a prime central location.
In contrast to Saudi Arabia’s revolutionary and innovative yet untested giga-projects, Dubai’s developments, while being ambitious, utilize proven technologies and models, significantly increasing the likelihood of their successful delivery. So, while The Line or Hexagon grab headlines for their bold futurism, Dubai’s and wider UAE’s mega-projects should not go unnoticed.
These mega-projects, alongside numerous smaller developments and initiatives, exemplify the UAE’s vibrancy and create myriad opportunities for foreign businesses, extending beyond architecture and construction.
Now is a good time to consider expanding your business to the UAE to be ready to reap the benefits from these exciting opportunities as they materialize over the next few years.