Dubai International Airport (DXB) will shift its entire focus away from local flights in the future — and eventually stop functioning as an airport altogether — once Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) is fully operational. That's the word from Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, who made the announcement at the Arabian Travel Market.
DXB Will Stop Functioning as an Airport
Speaking at the Arabian Travel Market, Griffiths confirmed that once DWC is complete, DXB will cease operations. Dubai South, on the city's southern edge, is home to Al Maktoum Airport — currently under construction and expected to be roughly five times larger than DXB when finished.
In Griffiths' view, it makes little sense to operate two major airports just 70 kilometres apart. DWC is expected to go live around the time DXB's existing assets reach the end of their operational lifetimes. With the cost of a full DXB renovation prohibitively high, the government has chosen to concentrate investment in the new mega-hub instead.
What Happens to the DXB Site?
No official redevelopment plan has been released, but Griffiths indicated that developers are eager to repurpose the land. The current DXB site sits adjacent to central Dubai, making it some of the most valuable real estate in the emirate — and one of the city's largest potential urban regeneration projects once aviation activity departs.
Dubai South and the City's Growth Strategy
The CEO described the move to Dubai South as integral to Dubai's long-term urban expansion. At present, much of the city's commercial and residential density clusters near the border with Sharjah in the north. Shifting the aviation anchor to the south could help balance growth across the emirate and ease chronic congestion in the north.
Al Maktoum International — A Future Global Hub
DWC is being built to an eventual capacity of 260 million passengers, with a first operational phase targeting around 150 million passengers. The $35 billion (AED 128 billion) terminal project — approved by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum — will incorporate advanced infrastructure including an underground rail connection. Once operational, it is expected to reshape Dubai's position in global aviation.
In short, DXB will close and DWC will take over as Dubai's primary air travel hub. The transition is a defining signal of the emirate's ambitions in aviation, smart infrastructure, and long-term economic growth.
