Dubai International Airport (DXB) has smashed its all-time traffic record, handling 93.8 million passengers so far this year, officials revealed on 19 November 2025 . The milestone accelerates the emirate’s $35 billion project to transform Al Maktoum International (DWC) into a five-runway super-hub capable of 260 million travellers annually.
The announcement, delivered during the Dubai Airshow, underscores the city-state’s dual strategy: sustain DXB performance while building out the larger replacement facility 45 km to the south. Orders signed at the show—including a wave of wide-bodies for Emirates and flydubai—are tailor-made for the forthcoming infrastructure.
![Record 93.8 million passengers push Dubai to press ahead with $35 bn second airport]()
For multinationals basing staff in Dubai, the expansion promises greater route diversity and reduced slot constraints, but it also raises practical questions about future commute times to the more remote DWC site. Real-estate consultancies report early land speculation around the airport corridor as companies weigh relocation of logistics centres and staff housing.
Airport CEO Paul Griffiths said the new hub would "re-imagine" the passenger journey through pervasive automation and multimodal links, hinting at direct high-speed rail to Abu Dhabi. Construction timelines point to phased openings from 2028, with a full DXB migration in the early 2030s.
Travel-risk advisers note that DXB is already operating near designed capacity; any delay to DWC could re-introduce congestion and affect on-time performance, so contingency planning remains advisable.
The announcement, delivered during the Dubai Airshow, underscores the city-state’s dual strategy: sustain DXB performance while building out the larger replacement facility 45 km to the south. Orders signed at the show—including a wave of wide-bodies for Emirates and flydubai—are tailor-made for the forthcoming infrastructure.
For multinationals basing staff in Dubai, the expansion promises greater route diversity and reduced slot constraints, but it also raises practical questions about future commute times to the more remote DWC site. Real-estate consultancies report early land speculation around the airport corridor as companies weigh relocation of logistics centres and staff housing.
Airport CEO Paul Griffiths said the new hub would "re-imagine" the passenger journey through pervasive automation and multimodal links, hinting at direct high-speed rail to Abu Dhabi. Construction timelines point to phased openings from 2028, with a full DXB migration in the early 2030s.
Travel-risk advisers note that DXB is already operating near designed capacity; any delay to DWC could re-introduce congestion and affect on-time performance, so contingency planning remains advisable.
