Dubai’s DXB Airport Will One Day Close and Become Real Estate, CEO Confirms

Key Points

• Dubai International Airport (DXB) will eventually close and be redeveloped as real estate once Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) is fully operational.
• DWC is planned to be the world's largest airport, with a projected capacity of 260 million passengers annually and an estimated cost of $35 billion.
• The transition is expected to take many years, with the first phase of DWC targeted for completion in 2033, and DXB's closure timeline still undetermined.

Summary

Dubai International Airport (DXB), one of the world's busiest airports, will eventually close and be transformed into a real estate development, according to its CEO Paul Griffiths. The closure will occur once the new Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC), planned as the world's largest airport with a capacity of up to 260 million passengers annually, is fully operational. While the first phase of DWC is expected to finish by 2033, the complete transition and DXB's closure will take place over a much longer, as-yet-undetermined timeline.