Last updated | September 3rd, 2025
Dubai boasts four key airports, two international airports and one airbase used by the military and a heliport used by private and corporate flights. Dubai is one of the most aviation hubs in the world, and its airport infrastructure is well established regarding its position as an international travellers’ destination. By the year 2025, Dubai will have multiple airports for an entire population of air travellers. This article will discuss how many and which types of airports are available in Dubai, their purposes and what is planned to happen in the future.
Main International Airports
Dubai International Airport (DXB)
The principal International Airport in Dubai is called Dubai International Airport (DXB). DXB is located approximately 21 kilometres away outside the city with more or fewer than 92 million passengers as of the year 2024. It serves as a hub of Emirates Airlines and connects to other destinations all over the world.
Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC)
The other airport is Dubai World Central (DWC) alongside the Al Maktoum International Airport, which is positioned in Jebel Ali, which is locally 61 kilometres Southwest of the Dubai centre. It started in the year 2010 and operates primarily in the cargo business, where it started offering passenger services in the year 2013. When this project is completed, it should be the world’s largest airport with an annual passenger capacity of up to 260 million passengers.
Domestic and Private Airports
Along with the significant airports that serve the international traffic, Dubai has several smaller flight service airports and aviation venues:
- Al Minhad Air Base (NHD): An instance of a military airport located around 25 kilometres from the centre of Dubai, which is predominantly utilised by the military and humanitarian activities.
- Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club Heliport: A heliport to access Dubai city quickly through private and corporate helicopter rides.
Key Roles of Each Airport
Each airport in Dubai serves distinct functions:
DXB: The largest of the two airports and deals with most of the international passenger traffic in the city, linking Dubai to more than 240 destinations across the world.
DWC: This airport specialises in cargo, but will also open passenger services as part of the overall Dubai South developmental project.
Al Minhad Air Base: Serves both military and humanitarian operations, which add to regional security and disaster relief operations.
Dubai Creek Heliport: It is the heliport that serves the private and corporate helicopter transports to support the convenient mobility within the city.
Passenger and Cargo Capacity
Air traffic handled by the airports of Dubai is considerable:
DXB: It attracts more than 92 million international travellers in the year 2024, and it is the busiest international airport.
DWC: DWC and OMDB share the fact that fewer passengers use them, with the latter expecting that once fully expanded, some 260 million and 120 million passengers, respectively, should use their facilities.
Cargo Operations: Dubai airports are vital actors in the air freight chain, and DXB and DWC have having enormous load of cargo materials that travel through them yearly.
Airports in Dubai at a Glance
| Airport Name | IATA Code | Location | Primary Function | Annual Passenger Capacity |
| Dubai International Airport | DXB | Al Garhoud District | International | 92 million (2024) |
| Al Maktoum International Airport | DWC | Jebel Ali | Cargo & Passenger | 260 million (projected) |
| Al Minhad Air Base | NHD | Al Minhad | Military | N/A |
| Dubai Creek Heliport | N/A | Dubai Creek | Private/Corporate | N/A |
Future Airport Expansion Plans
Dubai’s aviation sector is undergoing significant expansion:
- DXB: Whereas it flies almost to maximum capacity at the moment, new developments are already underway to increase infrastructure to reflect the growing passenger numbers.
- DWC: The planned or projected capacity of 260 million passengers per annum is part of a $35 billion expansion project, which intends to turn DWC into the largest airport in the world.
- Integration: Future developments are enhanced connectivity to the airports and incorporation with the wider transportation system of Dubai.
Conclusion
Airport facilities of Dubai are a testimony to the fact that it is the centre of the world’s aviation industry. As expansions and other strategic avenues continue, Dubai has increasingly become a destination with even more connectivity and capacity to support the new demands of international business and travel.