Why the world’s busiest airport is closed with more than 92 million passengers

The busiest international airport in the world, which welcomes more than 60 million passengers a year, will close because it is undergoing an expansion of £ 28 billion to increase its capacity to 260 million passengers per year.

Dubai International Airport, known as DXB, is an important travel hub and an important destination for long -distance travel for millions of Britons who come to the Gulf City every year.

But the boss, Paul Griffiths, announced that all services will eventually be moved to the newer Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) in the coming decades.

Located 22 miles outside the city and 38 miles of DXB, Al Maktoum International Airport opened its doors in 2010, although it is expected that a new DWC terminal will open in 2032 and the full extension will take place in the 2050s.

According to Griffiths, Dubai International Airport, which was first opened in 1960, is approaching the end of his ‘useful operational role’.

He spoke last week on the Arabian Travel Market Conference: ‘It is not in the mood for exploiting two large hubs with so much closeness to each other.

‘We will move every service to DWC. By that time, each active at DXB will be close to the end of its useful operational role, so the economy of keeping DXB open is not possible unless we invest a huge amount. ‘

DXB is currently the world’s second busy airport, with a record of 92.3 million passengers in 2024, but it has first place as the busiest in the world for international passengers, as reported by Aviation week.

Dubai International Airport, known as DXB, is an important travel hub and an important destination for long -distance travel for millions of Britons who come to the Gulf City every year

DXB is currently the world’s second busiest airport, with a record of 92.3 million passengers in 2024, but it has first place as the busiest for international visitors

According to Boss to Paul Griffiths, Dubai International Airport, who was first opened in 1960, is approaching the end of his ‘useful operational role’

DWC, on the other hand, has been in limited use in the last 15 years, initially used for charge and later for some passenger services, including a handful of EasyJet flights.

But that is all expected to change, because already Maktoum is expected to be five times the size of DXB and a capacity to process 260 million passengers a year after completion.

The new airport has five parallel runways and a maximum of 400 aircraft gates, which marks its status as the largest airport project in the world.

Currently, no less than 6.2 million international travelers are being estimated every day in Dubai, which amounts to around 17,000 British visitors, as reported by The standard.

Over the years, the increase in the footstoot of international tourists has put a new pressure on the capacity of DXB, which is sandwiched between two large motorways and residential areas.

Last April, the VAE prime minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum announced that aviation operations would move to the second airport of the city.

In the meantime, DXB remains the most important airline hub of the Emirate, where both British Airways and Emirates are expected to continue to operate popular flight routes to DXB from the VK.

Although the ultimate closing date of the airport has yet to be confirmed, it is reported that DXB will probably be developed in a space for real estate in the coming years.

All DXB services will eventually be moved to the newer Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) in the coming decades

The increase in the footstoot of international tourists has put a new pressure on the capacity of DXB, which is sandwiched between two large motorways and residential areas

It comes when the The world’s best airport has been crowned in a new rankingWith the UK that there is no place in the top 20.

Singapore Changi Airport was at the top of the list for a ‘record -breaking’ 13th time at the 2025 Skytrax World Airport Awards.

The prizes are the world’s largest survey for the satisfaction of customers and customer service and facilities at 565 airports.

Changi Airport Has a large number of attractions for travelers, including a butterfly garden, a swimming pool on the roof and a hedge maze.