Dubai’s Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) is moving “full speed ahead”, with its first major development phase on track to begin operations in the early 2030s and provide capacity for 150 million passengers a year.
Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, confirmed the progress during an international media briefing hosted by the Government of Dubai Media Office, where he outlined the next stages of DWC’s expansion and the eventual transition of operations from Dubai International (DXB).
The airport’s second runway is expected to open by the end of 2027, marking the next major infrastructure milestone for DWC.
Al Maktoum International Airport to handle 150 million passengers
The first major phase of Al Maktoum International Airport will have capacity for 150 million passengers annually, allowing Dubai to expand its aviation capacity beyond DXB’s maximum of around 115 million passengers.
DWC is ultimately planned to accommodate up to 260 million passengers a year.
The airport will be developed around eight nodes, each designed to provide capacity for approximately 32 million passengers. This will allow additional infrastructure to be introduced progressively as passenger demand increases.
When fully developed, DWC will have five runways, with four planned for regular use and one kept on standby. Two runways will support the initial 150-million-passenger phase.
DXB to DWC transition will happen in phases
The move from DXB to DWC will not happen overnight. Griffiths said the transition will take place in stages as capacity becomes available.
flydubai could potentially move five or six aircraft as early as next year, while the wider transition is expected to take place over several months.
DXB operations will ultimately move to Al Maktoum International once the airport’s initial 150-million-passenger capacity is available.
DXB passenger traffic continues to grow
The plans for DWC come as passenger demand at Dubai International continues to strengthen.
DXB handled 31.5 million passengers in the first half of 2026. Monthly traffic reached 5 million in June before rising to 6.3 million in July, a 26% increase in a single month.
Griffiths described the recent recovery in traffic as a “trampoline bounce”, with airline capacity now at 84% of previous levels and passenger volumes at 78%.
DXB expects to handle around 70 million passengers in 2026 and reach 100 million annual passengers by the end of 2027.
DWC aims to change the airport experience
Beyond capacity, Griffiths said Al Maktoum International offers an opportunity to rethink how passengers move through an airport.
Technology could reduce conventional processes and queues, with check-in potentially becoming largely unnecessary. Baggage drop and facial recognition could instead create an experience that Griffiths compared to arriving at a hotel lobby.
Dubai Airports is also exploring ways to integrate the airport with the city’s transport network, while artificial intelligence and other technologies could further change the passenger journey.
The development comes as Dubai seeks to expand its aviation capacity while maintaining the connectivity that supports tourism, trade and investment.
tanvir@dubaienwsweek.com
