A new Dh128-billion terminal is under construction at Al Maktoum International (DWC), designed to handle up to 260 million passengers a year. Once completed, it will eventually take over the full operations of Dubai International Airport (DXB) within the next decade. This expansion will make DWC the largest airport in the world, replacing DXB once the transfer is complete.

DXB, located in Al Garhoud, has served as Dubai’s main hub since 1960. Originally opening with a compacted sand runway and a modest terminal, it has since grown into the world’s busiest airport for international passengers. By 2011, DXB welcomed half a billion travelers, and within just seven more years, it doubled that figure.

As operations gradually shift south to Dubai South, DXB will continue to function as the primary hub, serving over 100 million travelers annually. However, much of its infrastructure will age over the coming decade, making it more cost-effective to consolidate operations at the new DWC site, which is five times larger.

In the interim, DXB is expected to surpass 88 million passengers in 2024, while DWC begins absorbing part of the traffic in phases. Initially, around 30 million passengers will move to DWC before its next phase of development, allowing both airports combined to manage well above today’s capacity.

DWC is being planned as a fully integrated aviation hub, with advanced transport links including metro connections, road networks, and automated passenger systems. The surrounding area, Dubai South, is also being developed into a full urban district, bringing the city closer to the new airport and ensuring easier access for travelers in the future.