2:25 pm - February 15, 2026
Dubai International Airport (DXB), the world’s busiest airport for international travel, is set to phase out operations as plans to relocate all flights to Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) advance. This announcement, articulated by Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, was made during the Arabian Travel Market held in May. Griffiths stated that operating two major airports so close to each other makes little operational sense, particularly given the expansive future growth projected for DWC.
In 2024, DXB saw a record 92.3 million passengers, a significant rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on global travel. The airport’s capacity is increasingly strained, primarily due to its geographical constraints surrounded by residential areas and major transport routes, which further complicate its ability to accommodate rising tourist numbers. According to industry reports, approximately 17,000 UK nationals land in the UAE daily, as Dubai remains a sought-after destination for holidaymakers seeking winter sun and business opportunities.
Plans for the $35 billion expansion of Al Maktoum International aim to transform it into a colossal facility, eventually able to accommodate up to 260 million passengers annually—five times the capacity of DXB. Currently, DWC remains largely underutilised, primarily serving cargo operations since its opening in 2010. With a projected 15-year timeline for full operational transition, the latest updates suggest the new terminal at DWC, supported by five parallel runways and 400 aircraft gates, will not be operational until 2032, with extended development expected to continue into the 2050s.
Officials have conveyed that the capacity strain on DXB necessitates a strategic move towards DWC, with Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum announcing the transition last April. The new airport will be engineered to handle the demands of Emirates airlines and its low-cost subsidiary Flydubai, solidifying Dubai’s status as a leading hub in global aviation. Griffiths stressed that the phased relocation of services is essential, implying there will be “no justification” for maintaining dual airports once the transition is complete.
Furthermore, plans for the areas surrounding DXB involve extensive redevelopment. The transition opens the door for real estate developments in what has become a prime area of the emirate. As Dubai continues to expand, its investment in aviation infrastructure points to a future where DWC could rival other major international airports, consolidating Dubai’s importance on the global travel map.
For now, DXB remains the operational heart of Dubai’s aviation landscape, with many airlines, including British Airways and Emirates, continuing to serve numerous routes connecting the UK and the UAE in the interim. As the landscape evolves, the move to DWC signifies not just a shift in airport operations but a fundamental transformation of Dubai’s connectivity and urban infrastructure.
📌 Reference Map:
- Paragraph 1 – [1], [2]
- Paragraph 2 – [2], [6]
- Paragraph 3 – [3], [4], [5]
- Paragraph 4 – [5], [6], [7]
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/dubai-airport-dxb-closed-uae-b2766489.html – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://www.apnews.com/article/ed5703a6ccd87ec7d3c06462b8a0ff83 – Dubai International Airport (DXB) recorded a milestone with over 92.3 million passengers in 2024, the highest in its history, surpassing the previous record set in 2018. This remarkable recovery post the COVID-19 pandemic marks Dubai as a critical hub for international travel. Officials plan to relocate operations to Al Maktoum International Airport by 2032, following a $35 billion upgrade. The airport, serving over 106 airlines to 272 cities, saw India as its top destination with 12 million passengers. The emirate’s rapid growth in tourism and real estate has turned it into a significant destination. Despite increased traffic pressures, Dubai’s aviation sector continues to lead globally, ahead of competitors like London’s Heathrow.
- https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/dubai-ruler-approves-new-35-bln-airport-terminal-2024-04-28/ – Dubai’s ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum has approved a new passenger terminal at Al Maktoum International Airport, estimated to cost 128 billion AED ($34.85 billion). This project aims to make Al Maktoum the largest airport globally, with a capacity of up to 260 million passengers, which is five times the size of the current Dubai International Airport. The facility will feature 400 terminal gates and five runways. Over the upcoming years, operations at Dubai International Airport will be transitioned to Al Maktoum. This new airport will also serve as the hub for Emirates airlines and its low-cost carrier Flydubai, along with other airline partners. The expansion underscores Dubai’s status as a prominent aviation hub globally.
- https://www.huffingtonpost.es/sociedad/primera-piedra-aeropuerto-mas-grande-mundo-400-puertas-embarque-capacidad-5-veces-poblacion-espana.html – El Aeropuerto Internacional Al Maktoum en Dubái será el aeropuerto más grande del mundo, con un presupuesto de 33.500 millones de euros. Este proyecto dispondrá de cinco pistas paralelas y 400 puertas de embarque, con una capacidad para acoger a 260 millones de pasajeros al año, equivalente a más de cinco veces la población de España. El aeropuerto ocupará una superficie de 70 kilómetros cuadrados y se espera que la primera fase del desarrollo, con capacidad para 150 millones de pasajeros anuales, se complete en la próxima década. Este ambicioso proyecto busca situar a Dubái como un referente mundial en conectividad aérea.
- https://media.dubaiairports.ae/dubai-world-central-dwc/ – Dubai’s second airport opened its doors to passengers on October 27, 2013, with Wizz Air as the launch airline. Kuwait-based Jazeera Airways launched services from October 31 while Gulf Air commenced flights from December 8, 2013. DWC welcomed the launch of flydubai’s operations with the arrival of their first flight on October 25, 2015. Dubai Airports launched cargo operations at DWC on June 27, 2010, as part of the first phase of the project. All cargo operators were moved from DXB to DWC by May 2014, making DWC the main cargo hub. It is also home to 20 cargo operators that fly to as many as 43 cities around the world. DWC 2024 Traffic: DWC welcomed more than 1.1 million guests in 2024, 95% YoY. The airport registered nearly 50,000 flight movements (all flights) in 2024. CIS was the top source market for DWC during 2024 with 727,000 guests, followed by Western Europe (110,000 guests) and Eastern Europe (100,000 guests). Russia was the top country by traffic with 713,000 guests. KSA was placed second with 67,000 in guest numbers, followed by Poland (40,000) and Germany (37,000 guests). Top three destinations by traffic were Moscow (395,000 guests), Sochi (80,000) and Riyadh (60,000). Phase II Expansion Project (2024-2034): On 28 April 2024, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President & Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, approved an AED128 billion Phase 2 Expansion of DWC. The project aims to build a 150 million capacity facility over the next 10 years. The ultimate capacity of the airport will be 260 million passengers per year and 12 million tonnes of cargo. The new airport will feature five runways – four of which will operate independently – West and East processing terminals, four satellite concourses with over 400 aircraft contact stands. It will boast uninterrupted automated people mover system for passengers, and an integrated landside transport hub for roads, Dubai Metro, and city air transport.
- https://english.alarabiya.net/News/gulf/2024/06/13/dubai-s-new-al-maktoum-international-airport-will-be-world-s-biggest-and-best-ceo – A new $35 billion expansion of Al Maktoum International Airport aims to put Dubai on the map for the world’s best, biggest, and busiest air passenger terminal. Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths confirmed it will “move the entirety of operations” from DXB to a new $35 billion expansion of Al Maktoum International Airport once complete, saying: “There will be no need or justification for us to operate and maintain two airports.”
- https://www.timeoutdubai.com/news/al-maktoum-international-airport-plans – A brand new city within the city will be built in Dubai South as part of the plans. The aerotropolis has been under development and operation since 2007 in Dubai. It will host the world’s leading companies in the logistics and air transport sectors, which will bring lots of new jobs to Dubai. This means that housing will be required for at least a million people according to Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. The new airport will also require an integrated landside transport hub for roads, the Dubai Metro, and city air transport.
