Dubai South and Majid Al Futtaim to Build AED 62 Billion Master Community Near Al Maktoum Airport

Dubai's southern growth corridor just landed one of its biggest bets yet. Dubai South and Majid Al Futtaim have signed an agreement to build a mixed-use master community worth AED 62 billion, a project that will stretch across roughly 22 million square feet of land close to Al Maktoum International Airport.

The tie-up pairs the master developer behind Dubai's aviation and logistics district with the retail group best known for the Mall of the Emirates and the City Centre chain. That pedigree shows in the plan: the new community will be anchored by a large shopping mall, wrapped in residential neighbourhoods, retail streets and the kind of lifestyle and entertainment venues that turn a housing estate into a place people actually want to live.

Why the location matters

Dubai South has spent years known mostly for cargo, business parks and the airport it was built around. This deal signals a deliberate shift toward homes and everyday amenities, positioning the district as a residential destination rather than a place you pass through on the way to a flight. Sitting next to Al Maktoum International, which is being expanded into what is set to become one of the world's largest airports, gives the community a long runway of demand from aviation staff, logistics workers and families priced out of central Dubai.

For buyers and investors, the appeal is straightforward. Land near an expanding airport, backed by government-linked developers, tends to appreciate as infrastructure catches up. Anyone weighing an entry point can track how the wider Dubai South area is developing and compare it with more established communities before committing.

What we know so far

• Total investment: AED 62 billion
• Size: about 22 million square feet
• Anchor: a major shopping mall, with retail, dining and entertainment
• Use mix: residential alongside retail and lifestyle offerings
• Location: within Dubai South, near Al Maktoum International Airport

Officials framed the partnership as a vote of confidence in Dubai's long-term trajectory. Nabil Alkindi, Group CEO of Dubai South, called it an important milestone in the district's growth, while Ahmed Galal Ismail, CEO of Majid Al Futtaim Holding, pointed to the group's continued belief in the emirate. The agreement was witnessed by HE Khalifa Alzaffin, Executive Chairman of Dubai Aviation City Corporation and Dubai South, and Fadel Abdulbaqi Al Ali, Chairman of Majid Al Futtaim Holding.

Home counts, pricing and a phasing timeline have not been published yet, which is normal at the announcement stage. What is clear is the direction of travel: Dubai is pushing serious money into its southern flank, and the payment plans and unit releases that follow such deals usually arrive within a year or two of the headline. The project also supports Dubai's Economic Agenda D33, the plan to double the size of the emirate's economy by 2033.