Dubai International Airport, which is considered the busiest international airport in the world, is planned to be permanently closed by 2035. All flights and services will gradually be moved to the new Al Maktoum International Airport, which, after extensive modernization, is expected to become the largest aviation hub on the planet.
Dubai International Airport (DXB), operating since 1960 and considered the busiest international airport in the world, is scheduled to close permanently in 2035, reports Express.
All operations of the largest aviation hub will gradually be transferred to the new Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC), which is currently undergoing a massive modernization costing around $38 billion. After the project is completed, DWC is expected to become the largest aviation hub in the world, according to the report. The transfer will affect all flights and services currently served by DXB, particularly those of Emirates and flydubai.
Once the expansion is completed, the airport in the Dubai World Central area will be able to handle up to 260 million passengers per year, setting an absolute world record.
This move is part of the UAE's ambitious strategy to dominate the global air transport and logistics sector.
The modernization project for Al Maktoum International Airport includes the construction of five parallel runways and up to 400 aircraft gates.
According to Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects (DAEP) - the company responsible for developing the emirate's aviation infrastructure - the new airport will usher in a "new era of smart airport systems and passenger-oriented services," ensuring the most comfortable travel experiences worldwide.
Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths explained that the simultaneous operation of two major aviation hubs next to each other makes no economic sense. He noted: "We will move absolutely all services to DWC. By that time, almost all infrastructure at DXB will be nearing the end of its operational lifespan, so keeping the airport open will be economically unfeasible without huge investments."
One of the reasons for closing DXB is also its location - the airport is effectively squeezed between major highways and residential areas, making further expansion nearly impossible. The main relocation of operations to DWC is expected to begin around 2032, although the full implementation of the project is planned to be completed only by 2057.
Additionally, the new airport is set to be integrated with the future high-speed railway, Etihad Rail. This will reduce the travel time between Dubai and Abu Dhabi to about 30 minutes.
The closure of DXB and the transfer of all operations to the new airport will be one of the largest infrastructure projects in the history of global aviation. UAE authorities expect that the new mega hub will strengthen the country's position as one of the main centers for international transport and global logistics.
