Dubai International Airport plans Dh6b-Dh10b mega-expansion to reach maximum passenger capacity

Dubai International Airport plans Dh6b-Dh10b mega-expansion to reach maximum passenger capacity

Dubai: Dubai International Airport (DXB) will be getting a Dh6 billion to Dh10 billion makeover in the next 5-7 years, and reinforce its status as the world’s busiest international hub.

The project will involve launching new commercial partnerships, adding lounges, creating more circulation space, reconfiguring the remote gate operations, and investing in new technology to transform DXB into a full-scale ‘smart’ airport, according to Dubai Airports’ CEO Paul Griffiths.

Video: Ahmed Razan | Editing: Irish Belleza | Reporting: Dhanusha Gokulan

These initiatives by DXB are focused on furthering growth over 10-15 years until the hub reaches maximum capacity. Then, operations would be expanded to Dubai’s second hub – Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC). While DXB can hold up to 118-120 million passengers, DWC can handle approximately 26.5 million passengers currently with the potential to surge to 240 million after finishing its Phase 2 expansion.

Eventual move to DWC

“The short-term goal is to invest significant amounts in expanding the operation at Dubai International Airport,” said Griffiths. “There will come a period where you’ve used all of the available capacity at DXB, plus the 32 million passengers annually we’ve got at DWC,” he said. “Beyond that phase, we are going to have to look at the