DUBAI: Dubai’s aviation authority has signed a construction agreement for the first phase of a project which will see the annual capacity at Al-Maktoum International Airport rise to 26.5 million by 2025.

Under the agreement, the first phase of the project increases the built up area of the passenger terminal building from the existing 66,107 sq m to 145,926 sq m, and will be completed by June 2017.

The expansion plan will also include 12 new boarding lounges and the extension of the emigration transfer and security area.

A new baggage screening area for arrivals will be added while the current baggage reclaim area will see three new carrousels.

Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, president, Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, chairman and CEO, Emirates Airline and Group, and chairman, Dubai Aviation City Corporation, signed the deal with Al-Jaber LEGT Engineering and Contracting.

Sheikh Ahmed said in a statement: “The announcement marks a historic milestone in the journey of Al-Maktoum International which is set to become the world’s largest airport.”

Al-Maktoum International Airport will ultimately have the capacity to handle over 220 million passengers per year, the statement said.