Dubai to build world's biggest airport at Al-Maktoum International

Dubai's ruler has endorsed a $US32 billion ($A35 billion) expansion plan for the city's second airport that aims to make it the world's biggest, the emirate's airport operator said in the latest sign that the Middle East's brash commercial hub is determined to move on from its 2009 financial crisis.

The approval sets in motion a vast building project that will boost capacity exponentially at the airport known as Al-Maktoum International at Dubai World Central.

Backers envision it will eventually handle more than 200 million passengers per year.