Dubai International Airport
Dubai International Airport (IATA: DXB, ICAO: OMDB) (Arabic: مطار دبي الدولي) is the primary international airport serving Dubai, United Arab Emirates and is the world’s busiest airport by international passenger traffic.[5] It is also the 3rd busiest airport in the world by passenger traffic,[6] the 6th busiest cargo airport in world,[7] the busiest airport for Airbus A380 and Boeing 777 movements,[8] and the busiest airport in the world operating with only two runways. In 2016, DXB handled 83.6 million passengers, 2.59 million tonnes of cargo and registered 418,220 aircraft movements.[9]
Dubai International is situated in the Al Garhoud district, 2.5 nautical miles (4.6 km; 2.9 mi) east[3] of Dubai and spread over an area of 2,900 hectares (7,200 acres) of land.[10] The airport is operated by the Dubai Airports Company and is the home base of Dubai’s international airlines, Emirates and flydubai. The Emirates hub is the largest airline hub in the Middle East; Emirates handles around 65% of all passenger traffic and accounts for approximately 42% of all aircraft movements at the airport.[11][12] Dubai Airport is also the base for low-cost carrierflydubai which handles 11.6% of passenger traffic and 25% of aircraft movements at DXB.[13] The airport consists of three terminals and has a total capacity of 90 million passengers annually. Terminal 3 is the second largest building in the world by floor space and the largest airport terminal in the world.[14] As of January 2016, there are over 7,700 weekly flights operated by 140 airlines to over 270 destinations across all six inhabited continents.[15]
Dubai International is an important contributor to the Dubai economy, as it employs approximately 90,000 people, indirectly supports over 400,000 jobs and contributes over US$26.7 billion to the economy, which represents around 27 per cent of Dubai’s GDP and 21% of the employment in Dubai.[16] It is predicted that by 2020, the economic contribution of Dubai’s aviation sector will rise to 37.5% of the city’s GDP and by 2030, the economic impact of aviation is projected to grow to $88.1 billion and support 1.95 million jobs in Dubai or 44.7% of the GDP and 35.1% of the total employment.
| Dubai International Airport مطار دبي الدولي Maṭār Dubayy al-Duwalī |
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| Airport type | Public | ||||||||||||||
| Owner | Government of Dubai | ||||||||||||||
| Operator | Dubai Airports Company | ||||||||||||||
| Serves | Dubai, United Arab Emirates | ||||||||||||||
| Location | Dubai | ||||||||||||||
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| Elevation AMSL | 62 ft / 19 m | ||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 25°15′10″N 055°21′52″ECoordinates: 25°15′10″N 055°21′52″E | ||||||||||||||
| Website | dubaiairport.com | ||||||||||||||
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 OMDB
Location in the UAE |
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| Statistics (2016) | |||||||||||||||
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Passenger
- Notes
- ^1 Biman Bangladesh Airlines’ flight from Dubai to Dhaka makes a stop at Sylhet. However, the flight from Dhaka to Dubai is non-stop.
Services
Aviation services
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The Emirates Flight Catering centre which was expanded in 2007, is capable of producing 115,000 meals per day[136]
Emirates Aircraft Hangars
Ground handling
Ground handling services at Dubai International Airport has been provided by Dnata Ground Handling Services. Emirates Airlines is handled by its own 2000+ strong Airport Services department .[137]
Services include cargo ramp and technical support services to airlines at Dubai Airport.[138]
Aircraft maintenance
Emirates Engineering, based in Dubai, operates the aircraft maintenance and engine test cell technical facilities at the airport. Emirates Engineering currently provides full support for the Emirates Airline fleet and all the other international operations at the airport.[139]
Current facilities include:[140][141]
- Seven aircraft hangars all capable of handling the A380 (currently the largest aircraft hangar in the world)[142]
- Aircraft painting hangar
- Aircraft processing plant
- Aircraft engine run-up facility enclosure
- Engineering Line Maintenance facility
- Engine Test Cell
- Aircraft spare parts stores
Passenger services
The airport has over 26,000 m2 (280,000 sq ft) of retail space spread between its three main terminals and includes many shopping and eating outlets.[143] The Dubai duty-free shopping area in Terminal 2 covers 1,400 m2 (15,000 sq ft) in departures and 50 m2 (540 sq ft) arrivals. The 3,437 m2 (37,000 sq ft) extension included a larger arrivals hall as well.
Extensive upgrading work on existing retail areas since 2004 in Terminals 1 and 2 has increased sales. Dubai Duty Free Company announced annual sales of Dhs5.9 billion (US$1.6 billion) in 2012, representing a 10 per cent increase on the previous year. In 2008, Dubai Duty Free doubled its retail space from 7,000 to 15,000 m2(75,000 to 161,000 sq ft) with the inauguration of the new Emirates Terminal 3 in October 2008. Dubai Duty Free recorded more than 23.5 million transactions in 2012.[143] As of August 2009, Dubai Duty Free was the biggest single airport retail operation in the world ahead of London Heathrow and Seoul Incheon airports.
In addition to a wide array of duty-free shops and eating outlets, Dubai Airport has two open-air garden areas. Dubai Airport has numerous business centres located around the airport. Within the international transit area of the interconnected Terminals 1 and 2, internet and games facilities, prayer rooms, showers, spas, gym, swimming pool and three hotels are provided. Various lounge areas are provided, some including children’s play areas or televisions showing news, movies and sports channels.[144] Terminal 3 has a left luggage facility operated by Emirates in the Arrivals area where layover passengers can leave their luggage for a fee while they go sightseeing.
Safety and security
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E-gate counters at Passport Control
The Civil Aviation Authority of Dubai manages the overall safety and security of the airport. Pre-screening takes place in all terminals at the entrance of the airport. Retinal scanning has been implemented in all UAE airports. This type of scanning prevents those deported from the UAE for serious criminal charges from returning again using fradulent documents (UAE nationals are exempt from retinal scans).
In early 2007, Dubai Airport introduced a new type of airport screening device which not only detected weapons, but also could screen the passenger for drugs in the blood. With the new system in place, travellers entering Dubai can be jailed for four years or more if found in possession (including in the bloodstream and the bottom of the shoes[145]) of illegal drugs (even in quantities as small as 0.001 g (3.5×10−5 oz)), including poppy seeds from bagels and prescription and over-the-counter medicines such as codeine.[146] A senior Dubai judge was quoted on 11 February 2008, by Seven Days saying, “These laws help discourage anyone from carrying or using drugs. Even if the amount of illegal drugs found on someone is 0.05 grams, they will be found guilty. The penalty is a minimum four years if it is for personal use. The message is clear – drugs will not be tolerated”.[146] A number of travellers have been held pending charge while Dubai authorities test their possessions, blood and urine for any trace of contraband.[147]
Operations
| Rank | Airport | Passengers | Annual Change | Carriers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Doha |
2,842,576 |  19.5% |
Emirates, Flydubai, Qatar Airways |
| 2 |  London–Heathrow |
2,695,784 | 8.4% |
British Airways, Emirates, Qantas, Royal Brunei, Virgin Atlantic |
| 3 |  Kuwait |
2,436,578 | 21.6% |
Emirates, Flydubai, Kuwait Airways, Philippine Airlines, Jazeera Airways |
| 4 |  Mumbai |
2,385,976 | 34.5% |
Air India, Air India Express, Emirates, Flydubai, Indigo, Jet Airways, Spicejet |
| 5 |  Jeddah |
2,156,798 | 13.8% |
Emirates, Flydubai, Flynas, Saudia |
As all passenger traffic out of the airport is international in nature, the three major terminals in operation are equipped with immigration-processing facilities for international travel.
Since there are international flights operating out from the airport, the terminals of the airport are equipped with immigration processing facilities and security scanning for all passengers including domestic, and regional passengers. Terminals 1 and 3 handle 95% of the international flights, whilst Terminal 2 mainly caters to regional flights and international flights routed to other airports in Middle East. Emirates Airline operates from only Terminal 3. Conversely, low cost carriers such as Flydubai operate flights out of terminal 2.[148]
Passenger growth at the airport has been growing at an average rate of 18%. The airport reached its capacity of 33 million passengers per annum by 2007, however this was still not enough to handle the growing over congestion at the airport. As 2013 the airport’s capacity reached 75 million with the opening of concourse A and expansion of Terminal 2.
Passenger traffic for 2014 grew by 7.5% as 70.48 million passengers passed through Dubai International, compared to 66.43 million during the corresponding period in 2013.[149] Growth slowed down in 2014 due to the 80 day runway resurfacing project, which saw DXB operate with only 1 runway between May and July.
In 2014, India was DXB’s biggest destination with 8.91 million passengers. The UK, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan followed with 5.38 million, 4.88 million and 3.13 million respectively. London Heathrow became the top city destination, recording 2,626,357 passengers. Doha followed it with 2,355,959.[150]
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