Every single service at the world’s busiest international airport will eventually move to Al Maktoum, according to the Dubai Airports CEO.
And the latest target states that Dubai Airports bosses plan to move all operations from Dubai International Airport to Al Maktoum International Airport, also known as DWC, by 2032.
As DXB continues to break its own record passenger numbers, the capacity of the airport can only stretch to a maximum of about 110-115 million per year – even with the many technological advancements introduced in recent years. In contrast, DWC will eventually have the capacity for 260 million passengers annually once it has been completed.
While all operations are expected to move to DWV by 2032, the full megaproject is unlikely to be completed until the 2050s.
Dubai Airports is encouraging airlines to make a phased migration from DXB to DWC, with airlines taking up slots at DWC when DXB isn’t available.
What happens to DXB once operations move to Al Maktoum?
Speaking at Arabian Travel Market earlier in 2025, CEO Paul Griffiths was asked about plans for DXB once all operations move to Al Maktoum International Airport, also known as DWC.
Although the move is still some time in the future, Griffiths stated that there would be “little sense” in having two airports the size of Dubai International Airport and Al Maktoum International Airport operating at the same time when they’re both so close to each other.
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In addition, he also discussed that the assets at Dubai International Airport would require renovation by the time the move to Al Maktoum is made, so keeping DXB open would be tricky unless they invested huge sums of money.
Griffiths said: “The current thinking is that when DXB gets to a point where we’ve got enough capacity created at DWC (Al Maktoum International Airport) to make the complete transition that we will move every single service from DXB to DWC, there’s little sense in operating two major airport hubs in such close proximity, within 70 kilometers of each other.
“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.”
Although it was mentioned that multiple Dubai developers “would love to get their hands on that site”, an official redevelopment plan for the DXB site has not been confirmed.
However, Griffiths added that moving the airport to the Dubai South area could have a great impact on traffic around the city.
He added: “If you think about it, that’s where the growth of Dubai will be, because we’re right up against the Sharjah border in the north.
“So it will spread the city out and actually make it perhaps a little easier than the traffic problems that we’ve got today. So that’s the future.”
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