Emirates and flydubai to move to Al Maktoum International Airport

The Dubai aviation giants are preparing for a major shift as the new airport takes shape

Two of Dubai’s major airlines are about to relocate their operations to Dubai’s newest aviation hub – Al Maktoum International Airport (aka DWC) – by next year. The move isn’t simply a relocation but a well-thought-out and phased-out plan, with flydubai gearing up to make its move first.

So, what’s actually happening?

In response to DXB, or Dubai International Airport, reaching its maximum capacity for passengers and flights, DWC is preparing to take over as the primary aviation hub of the emirate. The airport will be five times bigger than DXB and will be able to accommodate more than 260 million passengers a year, compared to DXB’s current maximum capacity of around 115 million.

Construction is full steam ahead and as of June 2026, the airport project had already entered large-scale construction, with more than Dhs13 billion worth of construction packages already underway.

This isn’t some small-scale move but a massive relocation, with all facilities and operations making their move as well.

Once fully complete, DWC airport is set to have 260+ million passengers annually, five parallel runways, two passenger terminals, seven concourses, more than 430 aircraft stands, capacity for around 12 million tonnes of air cargo annually and a well-connected system of roads and rail networks.

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What’s next for the Dubai-based airlines?

Here’s where flydubai comes in.

Existing passenger facilities at Al Maktoum International Airport are en route to being expanded and modernised specifically to support flydubai’s operations and its fast-growing fleet.

And according to the CEO of Dubai Airports, Paul Griffith, flydubai is expected to begin its relocation from DXB to DWC by the start of 2027.

This operation will be phased out rather than the airline making a sudden move altogether. flydubai has already begun its cargo operations at the newest facility and is preparing to make the move for passenger flights as well. As for Emirates, all current operations remain at DXB, with plans of transitioning targeted for 2032.

So while there’s still plenty of time for the airlines to make their big move, the countdown to Dubai’s next aviation era has officially begun.

Image: Unsplash

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