Six Interesting Facts about Dubai International Airport That You Should Know!

Familiarity with the airport is likely if you often go to Dubai. From duty-free shopping to Zen gardens, it’s one of the world’s busiest airports. The first airport in the country, Dubai International Airport, opened on October 24, 1960, and now it is the world’s busiest airport. There’s even a five-star hotel there. The fact that this airport is the ‘world’s busiest,’ with world-class infrastructure and customer service, should come as no surprise. But did you know many other fascinating tidbits about Dubai Airport?

Six Interesting Facts about Dubai International Airport

Here are six interesting facts about the Dubai International Airport to share with your friends! Keep reading to find out more!

• The DXB – World’s Busiest Dubai International Airport

DXB is the world’s busiest airport, handling over 88 million passengers. It is also the world’s largest airport in terms of international passenger traffic. It can take over 240,000 passengers daily, and over 200 airlines operate from its terminals.

It’s even bigger than Malaysia’s world-record holder, with over 200,000 new seats being built each year. In 2017, Dubai International Airport welcomed 87 million passengers. The airport offers modern infrastructure and services and manages connections between 260 destinations worldwide. It’s a transit zone for more than 100 airlines. Besides being equipped with the latest facilities, it has the most luxurious lounges.

Dubai International Airport hit a milestone in 2011 for passenger traffic when it housed 500 million passengers that year. And more interestingly, this record was broken after just seven years in 2018, when the airport received its billionth, international passenger. 

• The DXB Airport is as big as 297 Football Fields

With an area of 78 square kilometres, Dubai International Airport is one of the largest airports in the world. With its terminal and concourse area combined, Dubai airport is 2,122,474 sq. ft., equivalent to two hundred ninety-seven football fields!

There are plans to increase passenger traffic at Dubai airport to more than 118 million by 2023, from its current capacity of 90 million passengers annually. By 2025, Dubai airport and Al Maktoum airport aim to serve 120 million passengers.

• Dubai International Airport is over 60!

The first thing to know is that Dubai International Airport is not a new player in the aviation industry. It has been around for over 60 years! It has four terminals and handles more than 90 million passengers each year. 

It all started with a small terminal building and a runway made of sand that could only accommodate an aircraft with a maximum of 21 to 32 passengers. By the time the airport was fully renovated in the 1970s, DXB was used for refuelling rather than as a hub. More than 100 airlines currently fly out of Dubai to more than 220 airports in 214 cities across 94 countries. Clearly, Dubai airport brings the world together!

The construction of Dubai International Airport Terminal 4 was completed in 2007 and was built as an addition to Dubai International Airport Terminals 2 and 3. When it was originally opened, Terminal 4 was the world’s largest passenger terminal in the area and square footage (about 88 million square feet). Regarding the number of passengers per year, Dubai International Airport Terminal 3 is now the busiest. 

• Exclusive Concourse Dedicated to A380 Airplanes

The A380 is the world’s largest commercial aeroplane, and it’s no surprise that Dubai International Airport has an entire concourse dedicated to it. The A380 can carry up to 800 passengers and has a wingspan of 80 metres. That’s bigger than most commercial buildings! For comparison, the iconic Burj Khalifa has a wingspan of just 12 meters.

If you’re flying on an Airbus 380 in the future and need to change planes at Dubai airport, there are separate gates for each flight on the same concourse so that you won’t have to make your way through crowds or go on long walks between flights. Plus, there are double-decker jet bridges, so people boarding those flights don’t have to navigate stairs.

• Multiple Times World’s Best Dubai International Airport Awardee

Dubai airport has a multilingual virtual assistant, a streamlined wayfinding system throughout all terminals and interactive information zones with relevant data on airport facilities and directions to boarding gates. 

It’s not just that; the Dubai airport has received numerous prestigious titles and awards for recognised and renowned organisations in various categories over the years. One of the most notable titles held by Dubai airport is ‘Best Airport in the Middle East.’ Several publications, including Business Traveller Middle East, Gulf Business Awards, and World Travel Awards, have named it a ‘Frontier Award‘ winner.

• Huge Zen Garden is a Wonder!

On entering DXB, you’ll be greeted with an indoor garden that runs the entire length of Terminal 3 at Dubai International Airport. Six thousand plants and trees may be found here, as well as a waterfall. The garden was designed to help travellers feel more relaxed and refreshed after a long flight.

The Zen Garden is the name given to the area. While you wait for your aircraft, you may relax in its beautiful splendour, which includes several benches, a fish pond, and an abundance of greenery. 

You can locate the Dubai Airport Zen Garden between Gates B7 and B27 in Terminal 3. And if you are flying through the same airport, be sure to view the garden; it’s a sight to see!

The Takeaway

The Dubai International Airport offers passengers many amenities such as duty-free shopping, luxury hotels, and even an on-site mosque. If you are travelling through the airport, use the footbridge connecting Concourse A and Concourse B to avoid long waits at passport control.

In addition, if you plan to visit any of the attractions in Dubai, take advantage of getting there by using one of their several public transportation services offered from inside or outside the terminal.

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