Dubai has officially opened a new terminal catering to private aviation in Dubai South, formerly Dubai World Central.

The first private jet is understood to have taken off from the VIP terminal in April. The terninal has since hosted 1,000 private jet flights and the number of flights is expected to reach 4,000 in 2017, according to the Dubai Aviation City Corporation (DACC).

The new terminal occupies 5,600 square-metres, which DACC says is the largest purpose-built facility of its kind in the world.

The facility is located about five minutes’ drive from the Al-Maktoum International airport. It is also roughly 25 kilometres from Dubai Marina, 43km from the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and 50km from Dubai International airport.

The terminal design is inspired by the aerodynamic fluid lines of an aircraft wing and, like most private jet terminals, offers high-end shopping and an interior design that maximises privacy.

The terminal currently hosts fixed-based operators (FBOs) that include Abu Dhabi’s Falcon Aviation, Dubai’s Jetex and Switzerland’s Jet Aviation.

Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed al-Maktoum, chairman of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and chairman and CEO of Dubai’s Emirates Group, who inaugurated the facility on 19 December, said the new terminal will cement Dubai’s position in the world of private aviation “bringing us a step closer to becoming the region’s premier aerospace hub.”

The Middle East is understood to be home to more than 400 private jets, with Saudi Arabia and the UAE accounting for the largest share.

Close to 300 private jets worth in excess of $14bn are also understood to have been delivered to the region (including Turkey) between 2006 and 2016.