DWC sets second runway opening for 2027

Dubai World Central (DWC) will open its second runway by the end of 2027, as part of Dubai's plan to shift aviation growth to Al Maktoum International Airport. This expansion is designed to handle up to 260 million passengers a year, a significant increase from the current capacity at Dubai International Airport. Paul Griffiths, Dubai Airports CEO, confirmed this schedule during a media briefing.

The first major expansion phase is scheduled for the early 2030s, capable of handling about 150 million passengers annually. The additional runway is part of a larger airfield that will eventually consist of five parallel runways, supporting four simultaneous aircraft approaches and over one million aircraft movements annually. This expansion is crucial as Dubai International Airport is nearing its long-term capacity limit.

The 2027 milestone will be reached before the main passenger infrastructure is fully operational, with the wider programme including new terminals, concourses, baggage systems, automated passenger transport, and road and rail connections. Dubai's government approved a AED128 billion expansion programme in April 2024, which includes new passenger facilities and major airfield works.

DWC, which already handles passenger, cargo, charter, and general aviation operations, began passenger services in 2013 and expanded its passenger terminal to handle about 26 million passengers annually. The airport is being developed within Dubai South, with a master plan that includes connections to Dubai Metro and other transport networks, and an automated people mover linking passenger facilities within the airport.