UAE Sets 2035 Deadline for Dubai International Airport Closure

Dubai Airports has confirmed that Dubai International Airport (DXB), the globe’s busiest for international passengers, will cease operations by 2035. All flights, covering Emirates, Flydubai and other carriers, will be transferred to the vastly expanded Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) at Dubai World Central.

A statement at the Arabian Travel Market, attributed to DXB CEO Paul Griffiths, described the dual operation of nearby major hubs as unsustainable. Plans are proceeding through a phased closure spanning the next decade, after which the now cargo‑focused DWC will absorb all passenger routes from DXB.

Key Facts and Figures

• Record throughput: DXB handled 92.3 million passengers in 2024.

• DWC expansion: A £28 billion upgrade will deliver five parallel runways and around 400 gates, enabling handling of up to 260 million passengers annually.

• Timeline: DWC’s first new terminal is due in 2032, with full build‑out continuing into the 2050s.

• Site constraints: DXB’s encirclement by urban infrastructure limits expansion, pushing growth to desert‑based DWC.

Assessment of Risks

Operational Transition

Managing a decade‑long transfer while maintaining service levels introduces logistical and airline coordination risks.

Infrastructure Delivery

Delays in DWC’s build‑out could overload DXB as capacity peaks around 2030.

Passenger Adaptation

At 60 km south of central Dubai, DWC will require robust transport links to prevent customer dissatisfaction during and after transition.

Strategic Impact

Economic & Tourism

• Consolidates growth in Dubai South, enabling airport‑centric urban development with hotels, retail and logistics hubs.

• Supports a potential population of one million in Al Maktoum’s aerotropolis, along with construction and service-sector employment  .

Airport Sector

• Establishes DWC as the world’s largest airport, surpassing competitors like Istanbul, Doha or Singapore by scale.

• Enhances operational efficiency through advanced terminal designs, biometric processing and intra‑airport transit systems.

Environmental & Asset Redevelopment

• Eases development pressures at DXB site, freeing space for residential or commercial regeneration.

• DWC’s modern infrastructure supports more energy‑efficient operations with scope for new rail links to reduce carbon intensity.

Delivery Partners

• Dubai Airports: Managing and sequencing DXB phase‑out and DWC ramp‑up.

• Construction & Design Firms: Appointed via frameworks to deliver new terminals, runways and support infrastructure.

• Transport Authorities: RTA and Etihad Rail for essential access networks.

• Airlines: Emirates and flydubai to coordinate schedules, ground operations and customer transition.

• Real Estate & Urban Developers: Planning redevelopment around both airports.

Outlook

By 2035, DXB will conclude an era that started in 1960. Its phased handover to DWC enables Dubai to reset its aviation strategy, combining scale, technology and urban design. Success depends on execution on infrastructure, intermodal links, and smooth airline transitions.

This shift will redraw aviation geography in the region and create a model for airport‑led city development in desert environments.