Dubai’s Future Hub: DWC Will Replace DXB as the Largest Airport

As someone who geeks out over airports and airlines, I can’t help but get excited over Dubai’s latest move.

The city has awarded a AED 1 billion ($272 million) contract to Binladin Contracting Group to build a second runway as part of a $35 billion expansion plan. With the first phase set to finish by 2032, this ambitious project will eventually allow DWC to handle up to 260 million passengers annually.

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Breaking Ground: The $272M Runway Contract

The second runway at DWC is just the beginning. The project is being overseen by Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects (DAEP), with the first phase expected to be completed by 2032.

At the end of the first phase, expect 1 passenger terminal and 4 concourses, designed to handle 150 million passengers annually. The airport's master plan envisions five parallel runways and over 400 aircraft gates, meaning it could theoretically host dozens of A380s or other jumbo jets at once.

Combined with the projected 12 million tonnes of cargo annually, this would make DWC the world's leading airport, and five times larger than DXB.

According to officials, major contracts for an Automated People Mover (APM) and a high-tech baggage handling system are in the tender phase now and likely to be awarded later in the year.

DWC vs The World’s Biggest Hubs

Concept Layout of DWC’s Interior.
Dubai International (DXB) handled 92.3 million passengers in 2024, making it one of the busiest airports on the planet (second only to Atlanta last year). DXB is pretty much at capacity now; in fact, projections show it hitting 100 million by 2026, which is about as much as its two runways and terminals can handle without major delays.

DWC’s ultimate capacity of about 260 million passengers annually would make it nearly 2.5 times busier than the Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson, which saw about 104.6 million passengers in 2023.

Dubai's strategic plan involves transferring all operations from the current Dubai International Airport (DXB) to the expanded DWC within the next decade.

Of course, raw capacity is one thing; actually filling it with passengers is another. It will likely take years (if not decades) for traffic to ramp up anywhere near those levels, even in Dubai. This facility aims to ensure that Dubai is prepared for increased demand across the aviation sector for decades to come.

My Take: A New Hub for Travelers & Loyalty Programs

Concept interior of DWC’s future terminal.
As a frequent traveler, I can’t help but think about what the passenger experience will be like. The vision being sold is pretty grand.

At the very least, I expect vast airy terminals with lots of natural light, greenery, and art. The concept images even show palm trees and water features inside the terminal, so it’s like they’re bringing a bit of the outside in. For travelers, this could mean a more relaxing layover – perhaps spaces to stretch out, novel attractions to kill time between flights, and cutting-edge tech to speed along the boring bits of travel (like security and immigration).

From an airline and loyalty program perspective, this development opens up a world of possibilities. Emirates is obviously at the center of this. With so much space, Emirates can finally overcome slot constraints and expand routes or frequencies more freely. For those of us in the points-and-miles game, more flights and more partners could mean more redemption opportunities (Emirates Skywards might grow in importance, and partnerships like the one with Qantas could deepen with a shared mega-hub).

I’m also curious about what Emirates will do with a blank slate for their lounges. Their current A380 direct access lounge in DXB is already impressive, but a new airport could bring even more luxurious offerings, from fine dining to private rooms.

Final Thoughts

I have to acknowledge there’s still a long road (runway?) ahead. Grand projects can face delays or changes(like we talked about in Kuwait). $35 billion isn’t pocket change, even for Dubai, and timelines might shift. There’s also the human element: will travelers embrace DWC as much as they did DXB?

The bottom line is that Dubai’s second airport expansion is very exciting for the global travel community. It promises a new level of scale and possibly a redefinition of the airport experience. If you’re like me, you might find yourself in a few years eagerly booking an award ticket routing through DWC just to check it out (as long as EK doesn't keep raising their surcharges).

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