Dubai International Airport (DXB) will close by 2035, relocating traffic to Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC), which is in full expansion.

Dubai International Airport (DXB), the busiest international hub in 2024, will be closed by 2035, according to a major transition plan. The decision aims to relocate air traffic to Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC), which is undergoing expansion and will become one of the largest airports in the world. DXB, inaugurated in 1960, has become limited due to the dense urban infrastructure surrounding it, necessitating the search for a long-term alternative. DWC is designed to have a capacity of 260 million passengers annually, with an estimated cost of £28 billion. The project includes modern technologies such as contactless check-in and biometric control. DXB will continue to operate for about a decade, allowing for a gradual transition of operations. The DWC project will have a significant economic impact on tourism and the labor market, thereby strengthening the position of the United Arab Emirates in global competition with other air hubs.