DXB - Chronological History

Dubai has grown from a relatively unknown city with a tiny airport mainly used as a refuelling stop into a globally celebrated destination for tourism, trade, finance and aviation within a matter of decades. 

DXB’s rise over the years has been nothing short of phenomenal. To put DXB’s growth rate into perspective, consider this: DXB reached the major milestone of having served 1 billion passengers by the end of 2018. The airport took 51 years – from September 30, 1960 to December 31, 2011 – to reach the first 500 million passenger but clocked the remaining 500 million in just 7 years.

Having risen to the top of the list of the world’s busiest international airports in 2014 with passenger traffic exceeding 70.4 million, DXB has since extended its lead over the competition to further cement its position. DXB topped 86.4 million passengers in 2019.

DXB currently has capacity for 90 million passengers per annum, which is being increased to more than 118 million under a process enhancement project. 

Chronological History

• 2023 - DXB surpasses pre-pandemic traffic with 87m passengers in 2023. 
• 2023 – DXB held its position as the world’s number one airport for international passengers for the 9th year running. 
• 2022 – DXB exceeds forecast with annual traffic surpassing 66.1 million passengers.
• 2022 – A bilingual, 24/7, omni channel customer care centre which enables pax to get in touch with Dubai Airports across multiple channels seamlessly was launched.
• 2022 – Dubai Airports closed DXB’s Northern Runway for total refurbishment from May 9 (to June 22). More than 100 flights per day operated into/from DWC during the period.
• 2022 – DXB is the busiest international airport for the eighth consecutive year with 29.1m passengers in 2021.
• 2021 – DXB returns to 100% operational capacity in December following the completion of phased opening of Concourse A. 
• 2021 – DXB reopens Terminal 1 and Concourse D on June 24 after 15 months. The facilities were closed on March 25, 2020 following the suspension of operations at DXB as part of the measures to control the spread of Covid-19.
• 2021 – Dubai Airports in collaboration with Dubai Health Authority and Pure Health open a 20,000 square-foot lab capable of processing 100,000 PCR tests per day on June 22, 2021. One of the world’s largest in-house lab at an airport, the facility can process PCR tests within hours.
• 2021 – DXB is voted as the world’s best international airport for the first time by readers of the Business Traveller.
• 2021 – DXB achieves Airport Health Accreditation from ACI for its health, safety and hygiene regime.
• 2021 – DXB retains its position as the world’s busiest international airport for the seventh consecutive year with passenger traffic of 25.9m in 2020.
• 2020 – DXB celebrates 60^th Anniversary
• 2020 – DXB becomes one of the first major hubs globally to reopen on July 7, 2020 after partial suspension of operations on Match 25 (special flights, repatriation operations and cargo flights continued throughout).
• 2020 – Operations at DXB are partially suspended on March 25, 2020 as part of measures by UAE authorities to combat the spread of Covid-19.
• 2019 – DXB retains title of the world’s busiest airport for international passengers for the 5th consecutive year with 89.1m passengers in 2018.
• 2019 – DXB achieves Level 3 of ACI’s Airport Carbon Accreditation Programme.
• 2019 – Dubai Airports completes the installation of 15,000-panel solar array at DXB’s Terminal 2, the largest at any airport in the Middle East.
• 2018 – DXB welcomes its one billionth international passenger.
• 2016 – DXB opens Concourse D, a $1.2b state of the art facility serving 60 international airlines operating out of DXB’s Terminal 1.
• 2014 – All cargo carriers’ operations moved from DXB to DWC.
• 2014 – DXB welcomes 70.4m passengers in 2014 to become the world’s number 1 airport for international passenger traffic.
• 2013 – DWC opened its doors to passengers on October 27, 2013. The passenger terminal was expanded in 2018 to accommodate 26m passengers annually, up from 5 m passengers.
• 2013 – Concourse A, the world’s largest facility purpose built for the A380 opens at DXB.
• 2010 – Dubai Airports opens the first phase of Dubai World Central (DWC) for cargo operations on June 27.
• 2009 – Passenger throughput surpasses the 40 million-mark with traffic reaching 40.9 million and DXB becomes the world’s fastest growing airport among top 50 major hubs. Work begins on Concourse 3 (now Concourse A), the A380 dedicated facility for Emirates’ super jumbo fleet.
• 2009 – Terminal 2 undergoes major refurbishment for the launch of flydubai, Dubai’s own low-cost airline.
• 2008 – Dubai Airports opened the much-awaited DXB Terminal 3 for the exclusive use of Emirates airline. The flawless opening of the world’s largest single terminal expanded DXB’s capacity to 60 million and won the airport accolades from passengers and the aviation industry worldwide.
• 2007 – Department of Civil Aviation is restructured leading to the formation of Dubai Airports –operator of Dubai’s airports – alongside Dubai Civil Aviation Authority – the local aviation regulatory body.
• 2002 – Dubai International was ranked the second fastest growing airport in the world according to Airports Council International (ACI) traffic statistics. The facility handled around 18 million passengers in 2003 and was firmly established as the aviation hub of the Middle East.
• 2000 – DXB becomes the first airport in the Middle East to feature a gated terminal with the opening of Concourse C.
• 2000 – The opening of Concourse 1 (now Concourse C), marked the start of a new chapter in Dubai’s aviation history. Built as part of the first phase of the general expansion project at a cost of AED2 billion, the Terminal increased the Airport’s capacity from 10 million to 23 million.
• 1998 – Terminal 2 was opened, increasing DXB’s capacity by two million passengers per annum.
• 1988 – Passenger throughput at the airport reached 4.3m and more than doubled in a decade to 9.7 million by 1998.
• 1985 – Emirates airline is launched.
• 1984 – The second runway, equipped with the latest meteorological, airfield lighting and instrument landing systems to give the airport a Category II classification was opened.
• 1983 – Dubai Duty Free began operations at Dubai International. From an annual turnover of US$20m in its inaugural year, DDF has grown to acquire the status of the world’s single largest airport retailer with a turnover of US$1.93b in 2017.
• 1980 – On 23 December 1980, DXB became an ordinary member of the Airports Council International (ACI).
• 1970 – The 70s witnessed many developments across DXB, starting with a new three-storey terminal building, a new control tower, additional taxiways, lengthening of the runway, extension of aprons, airfield lighting and landing instrument.
• 1969 – DXB accommodated nine airlines serving a total of 20 destinations.
• 1965 – Work to build an asphalt runway began in 1963 and were completed in 1965 together with the building and refurbishment of several facilities.
• 1963 – Work to build an asphalt runway began. It's opened in 1965 with numerous other newly built or refurbished facilities.
• 1960 – The airport comprising a sand compacted runway and a small terminal building was opened on September 30 and was capable of handling aircraft up to the size of a DC-3.
• 1959 – Work to build ‘Dubai airport’ began on a vast expanse of a wasteland some 4km from what was then the edge of the city of Dubai.