Dubai International Airport to shut permanently by 2035

Dubai International Airport, one of the world’s busiest international airports, will permanently shut down by 2035 as Dubai prepares to transfer all aviation operations to the new Al Maktoum International Airport, officials announced.

The airport, widely known as DXB, began operations in 1960 with a single runway built on desert land and later transformed into a major global aviation hub connecting Asia, Europe and Africa.

However, rapid urban expansion and space limitations have pushed the airport to the limits of its physical capacity.

Authorities said all flight operations would gradually be shifted to Al Maktoum International Airport, also known as DWC, which is being expanded under a multi-billion-dollar development project aimed at making it the world’s largest airport.

According to officials, the new airport will eventually have the capacity to handle up to 260 million passengers annually, far exceeding the current capabilities of DXB.

Dubai Airports Chief Executive Paul Griffiths said all services would ultimately move to DWC as maintaining the ageing infrastructure of DXB beyond 2035 would require massive investment that may no longer be economically practical.

He said much of DXB’s core infrastructure would reach the end of its operational life within the next decade, making the transition necessary for the future growth of Dubai’s aviation sector.

Officials added that the transfer process is expected to gain momentum by 2032, while the full closure of Dubai International Airport in 2035 will mark the end of a historic era in global aviation.