The management of both airports has announced that all services at DXB will be moved to DWC, with operations anticipated to be completely integrated within the next decade.
Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths announced that Dubai International Airport (DXB) will eventually be decommissioned as all operations shift to Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC). Speaking at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM), Griffiths said the transition will take place once DWC has enough capacity, eliminating the need to operate two major hubs in close proximity.
Opened in 1960, DXB has become one of the busiest airports globally, handling over 92 million passengers in 2023. However, Griffiths noted that DXB may become outdated by the time DWC is fully operational. “Every asset at DXB will be near the end of its useful life. Keeping it open would require huge investment, which may not be economically viable,” he explained.
The transition is expected to be completed within the next decade, after which all passenger and cargo operations will move to DWC. This shift is part of a broader plan to expand the city southward, easing traffic congestion and allowing urban development beyond DXB’s current northern location near Sharjah.
In April 2024, Dubai’s Ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum approved a new Dhs128 billion passenger terminal at DWC. Once completed, it will be the world’s largest airport by capacity, handling up to 260 million passengers annually. The airport will include 400 aircraft gates, five parallel runways, and will integrate cutting-edge aviation technologies.
Covering a massive 70 square kilometers, the new airport will include a high-speed underground train system to ease passenger movement across the vast site. Griffiths confirmed the train journey would take 15 to 20 minutes and feature seated, high-speed transit to reduce walking distances and improve transfer efficiency.
The relocation marks a significant milestone in Dubai’s aviation future, with DWC poised to become the central global air hub.
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