The contractor ALEC has signed a deal to expand the Al Maktoum International Airport terminal building to more than double its existing size, it was announced on Wednesday.

Al Jaber LEGT Engineering and Contracting (ALEC) was appointed by Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects (DAEP) to increase the built-up area of the passenger terminal from the existing 66,107 sq. m. to 145,926 sq. m, it was announced. The work is set to be completed by June 2017.

It is the first phase of an expansion project that will see the airport handle up to 26.5 million passengers per year by 2025.

The proposed work includes a new immigration hall with 55 counters. The departure building will see the expansion of the public hall, commercial areas and offices as well as the check-in hall which will house 64 check-in counters. An additional 10 counters will be specifically dedicated to business-class travellers.

The contracting agreement with ALEC was signed by Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, and Chairman of the Dubai Aviation City Corporation, according to the DAEP statement.

“Today’s announcement marks a historic milestone in the journey of Al Maktoum International which is set to become the world’s largest airport,” Sheikh Ahmed said. “We are poised to significantly boost Dubai’s economy by creating a world-class facility capable of handling the growing number of passengers visiting and transiting our city.”

Al Maktoum International Airport will ultimately have the capacity to handle over 220 million passengers per year, according to the statement from DAEP, an autonomous corporate entity attached to the Dubai Aviation City Corporation that is responsible for airport works in Dubai.