Dubai International Airport (DXB) is set to close once all operations transition to Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC), according to Paul Griffiths, the CEO of Dubai Airports. Speaking at the Arabian Travel Market, Griffiths discussed the future of DXB and emphasized that maintaining two major airports so close together would not make much sense.

Griffiths pointed out that Al Maktoum International Airport will eventually be five times larger than DXB. He noted that the assets at DXB will likely require renovations by the time the move to DWC occurs, making it financially challenging to keep DXB operational without significant investment. He stated, “The current thinking is that when DXB gets to a point where we’ve got enough capacity created at DWC to make the complete transition that we will move every single service from DXB to DWC.”

Furthermore, Griffiths explained that by the time the transition takes place, the infrastructure at DXB will be nearing the end of its useful life. He highlighted the economic impracticality of keeping DXB open without substantial financial input.

Although there is interest from multiple Dubai developers in the DXB site, an official redevelopment plan has not yet been confirmed. Griffiths mentioned that relocating the airport to the Dubai South area could significantly alleviate traffic issues in the city, suggesting that it would better accommodate Dubai’s growth. He remarked, “So it will spread the city out and actually make it perhaps a little easier than the traffic problems that we’ve got today. So that’s the future.”