Dubai International Airport (DXB), one of the world's busiest airports, is set to close permanently in 2035 after more than six decades as a global aviation hub. All flights and services will transfer to Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) in Dubai South, with a phased relocation expected to begin around 2032 and take several years to complete.
Massive Expansion at Al Maktoum International Airport
DWC is currently undergoing a massive £28 billion development, with plans to become the world's largest air hub. When complete, the airport is expected to handle an annual passenger capacity of up to 260 million people, making it five times the size of DXB. It will feature five runways and 400 aircraft gates.
The switch will include all flights and services from DXB, including those of Dubai-based Emirates and flydubai. Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, stated, "The current thinking is that when DXB gets to a point where we’ve got enough capacity created at DWC to make the complete transition, that we will move every single service from DXB to DWC."
Reasons for Closure
Griffiths explained that operating two major airport hubs in such close proximity—within 70 kilometers of each other—makes little sense. He added, "The other point to remember is that by then, if we’ve done our sums of calculations right, every single asset at DXB will be close to the end of its useful operating life. So the economics of keeping DXB open will not really be possible to do unless we invest a huge amount of money."
History of Dubai International Airport
Dubai International Airport officially opened on September 30, 1960, with a small terminal building and an 1,800-meter compacted sand runway. It quickly grew to accommodate millions of passengers. In 2025, DXB welcomed 95.2 million passengers, making it the second busiest airport in the world and the busiest by international passenger traffic.
The closure marks the end of an era for the airport that has been a key hub for global travel since 1960. All operations will be consolidated at DWC, which is set to become the world's largest air hub.
