Two construction companies have been awarded contracts worth a total of $125 million to work on the expansion of the Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) in Dubai South, it has been announced.

Lane Construction Company – a US-based subsidiary of the Milan, Italy-headquartered Salini Impregilo Group – said in a statement that it has secured a $75m contract to complete 60% of the works.

“The project entails new terminal facilities, concourses, runways, roads and tunnels,” the statement said. “In preparation for the expansion, Lane will work on temporary fences and gates, utilities and site offices, as well as site security. It is to start in January 2017 and finish in 31 months.”

National Contracting and Transportation Company (NCTC) headquartered in Sharjah, UAE, will complete the remaining 40%.

Dubai’s newest airport is expected to become a major transport hub. Plans state that it will eventually have capacity for more than 220 million passengers a year, making it the world’s biggest in terms of size and passenger capacity by 2050.