Dubai to close DXB and launch AI-powered Al Maktoum airport with underground trains

Dubai is moving forward with the full-scale development of Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) — a project that will eventually replace Dubai International (DXB) as the emirate’s main air hub.

Designed to handle 260 million passengers annually, DWC will become the world’s largest airport by capacity. One of its key features is a new underground train system that will connect terminals and key points across the airport’s massive 70-square-kilometre footprint.

Travel times are expected to range between 15 and 20 minutes. To ensure comfort over these longer distances, the trains will offer seated carriages — a departure from standard airport shuttles.

The infrastructure will include:

• Five passenger terminals
• Five parallel runways
• Over 400 boarding gates
• Eight satellite mini-terminals to simplify check-in, baggage drop, and security

Artificial intelligence will support internal logistics — from route planning to live navigation assistance. Passengers will be automatically routed to the closest train station for their gate, while visual indicators will help them estimate walking time.

The new airport will be developed in phases. The first stage, valued at AED 128 billion, is expected to take around 10 years. Once DWC reaches full operational capacity, DXB will begin a gradual shutdown.

Speaking on the transition, Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, explained that maintaining both airports no longer makes strategic sense:

“There is little sense in operating two major hubs with such close proximity to one another.”

He added that Dubai’s urban expansion is already shifting south, making DWC better positioned for future travel demand: “The way the city is growing is towards the south, so Dubai World Central (DWC) will be a very convenient and quick journey once all the road and rail networks are in place.”

DXB’s location in the city centre also limits its physical growth. According to Griffiths, once the transition is complete, DXB’s closure will unlock new development potential in the surrounding area: “It is quite probable that once the transition is complete, DXB will close to traffic and enable the redevelopment of the whole Al Garhoud area.”

Operationally, the long-term cost of maintaining DXB is also becoming unsustainable:

“The other point is that DXB by then, every single asset at DXB will be close to the end of its useful operating role, so the economics of keeping DXB open will not be possible unless we invest a huge amount of money.”