Dubai Airports is pushing Dubai International (DXB) toward a new milestone: 120 million passengers a year. CEO Paul Griffiths has outlined a comprehensive upgrade programme aimed at lifting annual throughput from its current 98 million, as first reported by Arabic daily Emarat Al-Youm.
DXB Capacity Plan: What's on the Table
Griffiths confirmed the expansion covers five core workstreams: capacity enhancement, new commercial partnerships, new lounges, a larger transportation zone, and a full redistribution of remote gate locations. The goal is to keep Dubai International ranked as the number one airport in the world.
"Currently improving the airport's facilities, upgrading its equipment, and undertaking new technological projects is a key strategy for us at Dubai Airports," Griffiths said. "Our ultimate goal is to retain the airport as the number one airport in the whole world."
The DXB passenger capacity target of 120 million annually is not just an internal ambition — it is central to Dubai's broader aviation strategy as the emirate prepares for its next-generation hub.
A Blueprint for Al Maktoum International Airport
Griffiths signalled that the DXB upgrade programme carries significance beyond its own terminals. The passenger experience improvements being introduced at Dubai International will serve as a direct template for developing Al Maktoum International Airport, which is slated to become the airport of the future for Dubai.
"The strategic objective is to maintain Dubai International Airport guest satisfaction index above a set level as Dubai International Airport grows into Al Maktoum International Airport to become the airport of the future," Griffiths said.
In practical terms, every innovation tested at DXB — from smarter gate configurations to redesigned commercial zones — informs how Al Maktoum will be built and operated.
Smart Airport Vision
Beyond bricks and mortar, Griffiths wants DXB to evolve into a fully smart airport. The modernisation push is designed to "make the airport a smart one and enhance the movement of passengers at all the possible contact points," he said — reducing friction across every stage of the journey from kerb to gate.
This aligns with a wider industry shift toward AI-driven, seamless travel experiences, and positions DXB as a test bed for technology that will eventually power the much larger Al Maktoum hub.
DXB Already Surpassing Pre-Pandemic Records
DXB has already demonstrated strong momentum. The airport surpassed its pre-pandemic benchmark of 75 million passengers a year and recorded 87 million in the most recent reporting period — a figure Dubai Airports described as the airport's best-ever year and the "fastest major airport recovery" of any large hub globally.
The airport has maintained its position as the world's busiest international airport for a decade running. Reaching 120 million annual passengers would extend that lead significantly and sustain the title well into the 2030s.
