Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International (DWC)

Dubai’s second airport opened its doors to passengers on October 27, 2013, with Wizz Air as the launch airline. Kuwait-based Jazeera Airways launched services from October 31 while Gulf Air commenced flights from December 8, 2013. DWC welcomed the launch of flydubai’s operations with the arrival of their first flight on October 25, 2015. 

Dubai Airports launched cargo operations at DWC on June 27, 2010, as part of the first phase of the project. All cargo operators were moved from DXB to DWC by May 2014, making DWC the main cargo hub. It is also home to 20 cargo operators that fly to as many as 43 cities around the world. 

DWC 2024 Traffic 

• DWC welcomed more than 1.1 million guests in 2024, 95% YoY.
• The airport registered nearly 50,000 flight movements (all flights) in 2024.
• CIS was the top source market for DWC during 2024 with 727,000 guests, followed by Western Europe (110,000 guests) and Eastern Europe (100,000 guests).
• Russia was the top country by traffic with 713,000 guests. KSA was placed second with 67,000 in guest numbers, followed by Poland (40,000) and Germany (37,000 guests).
• Top three destinations by traffic were Moscow (395,000 guests), Sochi (80,000) and Riyadh (60,000). 

Phase II Expansion Project (2024-2034)
On 28 April 2024, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President & Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, approved an AED128 billion Phase 2 Expansion of DWC. 

• The project aims to build a 150 million capacity facility over the next 10 years. 
• The ultimate capacity of the airport will be 260 million passengers per year and 12 million tonnes of cargo.
• The new airport will feature five runways - four of which will operate independently - West and East processing terminals, four satellite concourses with over 400 aircraft contact stands. 
• It will boast uninterrupted automated people mover system for passengers, and an integrated landside transport hub for roads, Dubai Metro, and city air transport.
   

DWC 2023 Traffic

• DWC welcomed more than 540,000 guests in 2023.
• The airport registered 4,250 flight movements (passenger) during the year.
• DWC handled 576,000 tonnes of cargo in 2023. 

DWC 2022 Traffic

• The passenger terminal at DWC accommodated traffic diverted from DXB during the runway refurbishment project at DXB, welcoming some 650,000+ passengers on 6,200 flights between May 9 and June 22, 2022.
• An estimated 200,000 plus passengers travelled on match day shuttle flights operated by flydubai and Qatar airways between DWC and Doha for the FIFA World Cup from November 20 to December 18.
• The two carriers operated up to 120 match day flights between DWC and Doha daily for the duration of the event.
• DWC registered record growth in general aviation activity with more than 930 flights in a week (between December 13-19, the final week of sporting event).
• DWC welcomed an estimated 494k passengers in the Q4 2022.

Terminal Expansion (2018)

In 2018, Dubai Airports opened the expanded passenger terminal at DWC. 
With annual capacity of 26 million passenger, the expanded facility opened in time to offer alternate capacity for airlines during the closure of one of DXB’s two runway for refurbishment from April 16 to May 30, 2019.
The expanded passenger terminal provides a total of 24 boarding gates, a brand new 6,000 bags per hour baggage handling system, 7 baggage reclaim carousels and 104 check-in desks.
 

DWC Expansion Quick Facts

• 26.5 million guests per year 
• 7 Baggage carousels 
• 40 Arrivals immigration counters 
• 5 Arrivals smart gates (space for 20) 
• 90 + 4 OOG Check-in Desks 
• 10 Business Class Check-in Counters 
• 104 Total Check-in 
• 24 Departure Boarding Gates 
• Baggage System – 80 chutes, 8 transfers, 6000 bags per hour 
• 12 boarding gates, Business class lounge/boarding 
• 2,500 Shaded Parking Spaces 
• 144,000 sqm Terminal Area 
• 98 Remote a/c stands 
• Expanded taxi/limo staging area and pick up/drop off
   

Passenger Traffic
The passenger terminal at DWC was temporarily closed at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic as Dubai Airports consolidated all its passenger and cargo operations at DXB. 
While all freighter operators moved back to DWC by March 2022, its passenger terminal was reopened in May to accommodate passenger traffic diverted from DXB owing to the closure of its Northern runway for a refurbishment project.
Between May and June 2022, DWC welcomed 651,826 passengers on 6,240 flights.

Passenger Traffic 2018-2019

• Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International (DWC) welcomed a total of 1.6 million passengers in 2019, up 81.5%, mainly resulting from the relocation of operations by a number of airlines during the 45-day closure of one of DXB’s two runways for rehabilitation in April-May 2019.
• A total of 36,949 flights took off or landed at DWC in 2019 (23.3% YoY).

Cargo Traffic 2018-2019

• DWC moved a total of 911,571 tonnes of freight in 2019, a year on year decline of -7.7%.
• DWC was served by six passenger airlines operating an average of 30 weekly flights to 45 international destinations. It is also home to 17 cargo operators that fly to as many as 45 cities around the world.

2018

• Passenger traffic at DWC totalled 900,202 passengers in 2018, down 0.5% compared to 2017.
• DWC handled 987,986 tonnes of cargo in 2018 a year on year increase of 1.6% compared to 2017.
• There were 29,959 flight movements at DWC in 2018, down 12.4% YoY. 

2017

• DWC welcomed 904,940 passengers in 2017, YoY increase of 6.4%.
• Aircraft movements at DWC totalled 34,198, down 11.6% compared to 2016.
• DWC handled 972,295 tonnes of freight in 2017, up 8.3% YoY
   

2016

• DWC welcomed a total of 850,633 passengers in 2016, up 84.5% compared to 2015.
• Air freight volumes at DWC showed a slight increase during 2016 with 897,998 tonnes, up 0.8% YoY.
• DWC handled a total of 38,671 aircraft movements in 2016, a contraction of 5.6% compared to 2015.
   

2015

• DWC handled 888,714 tonnes of freight in 2015, up 7.7% from 2014.
• DWC welcomed 463,236 passengers during 2015, a contraction of -45.2% compared to the previous year.
• The slump was due to the surge in volumes created by the temporary relocation of 300 weekly flights while the runway refurbishment programme was conducted at Dubai International in 2014.
• Aircraft movements in 2015 totalled 42,055 compared to 47,655 movements during the same period last year, a decrease of 11.8%.
   

2014

• DWC handled 758,371 tonnes of freight in 2014, a sharp increase of 262.5% from 2013. The spike was fuelled mainly by the completion of the shift of all pure cargo flight, including Emirates SkyCargo, from DXB to DWC in May 2014.
• Annual passenger traffic in 2014 totalled 845,046 because of temporary flights operated by some passenger airlines during the runway upgrade project at DXB between May 1 and July 2014.
• The increased activity in passenger and freight operations at DWC propelled the number of annual aircraft movements by 91.6% to 47,655.
• The airport recorded 11,687 aircraft movements during the fourth quarter, up 47% from 2013.
• DWC handled 219,092 tonnes of air freight during 2012 – its second full calendar year of operations, an increase of 144% from 2011.

General Aviation
Dubai Airports launched general aviation operations at DWC on April 28, 2011 with the first flight from launch customer Al Futtaim Services Company. The launch of operations followed the General Civil Aviation Authority’s regulatory approval for the facility on February 24, 2011.

DWC forms the heart of a 140sq km multiphase development of six clustered zones. The development is the region’s first integrated, multi-modal transportation platform connecting air, sea, and land.