Dubai South and Majid Al Futtaim Launch Dh62 Billion Mixed-Use Community Near Al Maktoum International Airport

In one of the most significant real estate announcements of 2026, Dubai South and retail giant Majid Al Futtaim have signed a landmark agreement to co-develop a Dh62 billion, 22-million-square-foot master-planned community. This development is poised to redefine urban living in the emirate and anchor economic growth for decades to come.

What Is the Dubai South Majid Al Futtaim Dh62 Billion Project?

Announced on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, the new mixed-use master community represents a strategic union between two of the UAE’s most powerful development entities. Dubai South, already one of the emirate’s largest master-planned urban districts, and Majid Al Futtaim, the region’s leading mall operator and community developer, are joining forces to build what is set to become a landmark destination in Dubai’s fastest-growing corridor.

Situated near Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC), the development is designed to serve the surging population and business community gravitating toward Dubai South in anticipation of the airport’s full-scale completion, an event that will cement Dubai’s status as the world’s premier aviation hub.

Scale and Scope: Inside the 22-Million Square Foot Development

At 22 million square feet, the project is among the largest single mixed-use community developments ever announced in the UAE. The flagship Mall of the Emirates spans roughly 2.4 million square feet of gross leasable area. This new community is an order of magnitude larger, encompassing not just retail but an integrated, self-sustaining urban ecosystem.

What the Community Includes

• Residential units: A diverse range of homes catering to premium residents within one of Dubai’s most strategically located districts.
• Landmark shopping mall: A major new retail destination anchoring the community, promising world-class shopping, entertainment, and lifestyle experiences.
• Entertainment and lifestyle: Integrated leisure offerings combining hospitality, wellness, dining, and cultural destinations within a single walkable precinct.
• Transport connectivity: Direct access to major highways and logistics corridors linking key economic hubs across Dubai and the wider UAE.

Why Dubai South? The Strategic Case for the UAE’s Fastest-Growing Urban Corridor

Proximity to the World’s Future Largest Airport

The single most compelling factor drawing developers, investors, and end-users to Dubai South is Al Maktoum International Airport, currently under one of the most ambitious aviation expansion programmes in global history. When complete, Al Maktoum International Airport is planned to be the world’s largest airport, with a capacity that will dwarf existing mega-hubs like Dubai International (DXB) and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta.

For real estate, this is transformative. Airport cities, or aerotropolis developments, consistently command premium property values, attract multinational corporate tenants, drive hospitality demand, and generate the kind of sustained population inflow that supports large-scale retail and lifestyle destinations like the one Majid Al Futtaim is building.

Dubai South’s Master Plan: A City Within a City

Dubai South spans 145 square kilometres and is structured as a fully integrated urban destination. Its zones include the Aviation District, Logistics District, Golf District, Residential District, Exhibition District (home to Expo City Dubai), and the Business Park. The addition of this Dh62 billion mixed-use community significantly deepens the residential and retail fabric of the master plan.

Key Reasons Investors Are Targeting Dubai South in 2026

• Al Maktoum International Airport expansion, set to become the world’s busiest airport.
• Strong alignment with Dubai Economic Agenda D33, targeting a doubling of GDP by 2033.
• Proximity to Expo City Dubai and the JAFZA free zone ecosystem.
• Growing population of end-users and long-term residents, not just investors.
• Government-backed master developer with sovereign-grade credibility.
• Majid Al Futtaim holds BBB credit rating, the highest of any privately held company in the region.

Who Signed the Agreement? Key Leadership Behind the Deal

The agreement was formalised at Dubai South’s headquarters, witnessed by senior figures in UAE aviation and real estate governance.

Majid Al Futtaim: The Developer Shaping UAE Retail and Communities

Founded in 1992, Majid Al Futtaim is one of the Middle East’s most diversified holding companies, with owned assets valued at $20 billion. It holds the highest credit rating (BBB) among privately held companies in the region, a distinction that underscores the institutional quality of this partnership.

The group operates 29 shopping malls across the Middle East, Africa, and Central Asia, including the iconic Mall of the Emirates, Mall of Egypt, Mall of Oman, and a network of City Centre destinations. It is also the franchisee of Carrefour across the region and develops integrated residential communities such as Tilal Al Ghaf in Dubai.

From Mall Operator to Full-Spectrum Community Developer

The Dubai South project signals a deepening of Majid Al Futtaim’s strategic evolution. The model of anchoring a large residential and lifestyle precinct with a major shopping mall mirrors what the group has successfully deployed with Tilal Al Ghaf and City Walk, but at a scale that represents its most ambitious undertaking to date.

Dubai continues to demonstrate the resilience and strength of its economy through strategic developments that reinforce its position as a global destination for investment, business, and quality living.

Nabil Al Kindi, Group CEO, Dubai South

Dubai Economic Agenda D33: How This Project Fits Dubai’s 2033 Vision

The development is explicitly positioned as a contribution to Dubai’s D33 Economic Agenda, the emirate’s landmark roadmap that targets doubling Dubai’s GDP and cementing its status as one of the world’s top three cities by 2033. A Dh62 billion project that adds 22 million square feet of mixed residential, retail, and lifestyle space, built by two institutions with sovereign and investment-grade credibility, is precisely the kind of mega-project that feeds multiple D33 objectives simultaneously.

Supporting Multiple Economic Sectors at Once

The project is expected to generate activity across Dubai’s retail, tourism, residential real estate, commercial leasing, hospitality, and logistics sectors. The construction phase alone will create thousands of direct and indirect jobs, while the operational phase will attract permanent residents, business tenants, and visiting consumers, each contributing to the emirate’s diversified economic base.

What the Dh62 Billion Dubai South Project Means for Property Investors and Buyers

For Real Estate Investors

The presence of a Majid Al Futtaim anchor substantially de-risks residential development in the surrounding area. Research consistently shows that proximity to a well-operated, large-format retail and lifestyle destination drives demand for residential units, supports rental yields, and sustains capital values through market cycles. The group’s BBB credit rating further signals that this is a long-term commitment, not a speculative land play.

For End-Users and Residents

Dubai South has historically attracted a more corporate and logistics-focused occupier base. This development signals a clear shift toward a genuinely mixed demographic, including families, professionals, and lifestyle-oriented residents seeking proximity to the new airport while benefiting from world-class retail and leisure. For end-users, this is an opportunity to enter a master-planned community early in its development cycle, typically the most advantageous entry point for long-term value.

For Retailers and Commercial Tenants

The new mall will position itself as the retail core of Dubai South’s growing population. With Al Maktoum International Airport set to handle tens of millions of additional passengers in the coming years, the footfall opportunity for anchor and specialty retailers is considerable.

The Dubai South Developer Rush: Why Everyone Is Betting on Al Maktoum Airport

The Majid Al Futtaim deal is not an isolated move. Across the industry, a significant cohort of Dubai’s most active developers have been pivoting capital and planning resources toward Dubai South, driven by a shared conviction that the Al Maktoum International Airport expansion represents the most significant urban growth catalyst in the emirate in a generation.

The consensus view among real estate professionals is that Dubai South is to the 2030s what Dubai Marina and Downtown Dubai were to the 2000s: the defining address of an era.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Dubai South Majid Al Futtaim Development

Where is the new Dubai South Majid Al Futtaim development located?

The development is located within the Dubai South district, near Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) in the southwestern part of Dubai. The site will have direct connectivity to major highways linking it to JAFZA, Downtown Dubai, and the wider UAE road network.

What is the total value of the Dubai South Majid Al Futtaim project?

The mixed-use master community has been valued at Dh62 billion (approximately USD 16.9 billion). It spans 22 million square feet and includes residential, retail, entertainment, lifestyle, and hospitality components anchored by a large shopping mall.

When will the Dubai South Majid Al Futtaim community be completed?

Specific phasing and completion timelines have not yet been officially released as of May 2026. Given the scale of the development, delivery is expected to be phased over multiple years. Monitor official announcements from Dubai South and Majid Al Futtaim for updated timelines.

Why is Dubai South attracting so many major real estate developers?

Dubai South’s appeal is driven primarily by Al Maktoum International Airport’s planned expansion into the world’s largest airport. The aerotropolis effect, where major airport infrastructure catalyses surrounding urban and commercial development, makes Dubai South one of the highest-conviction real estate bets in the UAE.

Who are the key people behind the deal?

The agreement was signed by Nabil Al Kindi (Group CEO, Dubai South) and Ahmed Galal Ismail (CEO, Majid Al Futtaim Holding), witnessed by Khalifa Alzaffin (Executive Chairman, Dubai Aviation City Corporation and Dubai South) and Fadel Abdulbaqi Al Ali (Chairman, Majid Al Futtaim Holding).

A Landmark Bet on Dubai’s Next Chapter

The Dh62 billion partnership between Dubai South and Majid Al Futtaim is more than a real estate announcement. It is a statement of conviction. Two institutions with the deepest roots in the emirate’s development story are staking their reputations on the belief that Dubai South, anchored by the world’s future largest airport, will become one of the most important urban addresses on earth. For investors, buyers, retailers, and observers of the UAE market, this is a development worth watching closely.