Dubai World Central (DWC) is set to open its second runway by the end of 2027, marking the next major milestone in the expansion of Al Maktoum International Airport. Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths confirmed construction remains on schedule during a media briefing, with significant earthworks and piling already underway across the site.
Dubai’s DWC Airport To Open Second Runway By 2027; Flydubai May Shift Flights
The completed airport is planned to eventually have five runways with capacity for up to 260 million passengers a year. For now, only two runways are needed for the first phase, which will handle 150 million passengers in the early 2030s. The third and fourth runways will be added as terminal capacity grows, while the fifth will serve as a standby runway.
Building Toward 260 Million Passengers
The wider plan includes up to eight passenger processing nodes, each capable of handling around 31 to 32 million passengers, which Griffiths said can be added ahead of demand, giving DWC room to expand well into the second half of the century.
Flydubai Likely First To Move
While no airline move from DXB to DWC has been formally confirmed, Griffiths indicated flydubai would probably be first, potentially shifting five or six aircraft as early as next year. The broader transition is expected to unfold in stages over several months, with Emirates and flydubai using DWC capacity as DXB nears its limits before other airlines follow. Griffiths compared the eventual scale of the shift to Hong Kong’s airport transfer in the late 1990s, though Dubai’s move will likely take longer given far higher passenger volumes.
Also Read: What Is The Proposed 55-Km Airport Express Line That Could Connect DXB With DWC?
A Queue-Free Vision
Griffiths also outlined ambitions, still in the design stage, for a smoother airport experience at DWC, including completing more processing at ticket purchase, reduced document checks via facial recognition, and even airport functions built into rail stations so passengers could head straight to lounges or gates after disembarking. “I want to make you think you’re not at an airport,” he said.
Cover Image Courtesy: Coop Himmelb(l)au/Website
FAQs
How many passengers will DWC eventually handle?
The completed five-runway airport is designed for up to 260 million passengers annually, with the first phase supporting 150 million passengers in the early 2030s.
Will DXB close once DWC is ready?
A full transfer of DXB operations is planned only once DWC's first 150-million-passenger phase becomes available, with the shift happening in stages.
