Dubai Airport Sets Sights on 120M Passengers with AI-Driven Transformation

11 hours ago Editor

Dubai International Airport is betting big on AI and facial recognition to manage 120 million passengers, with plans to shift operations to DWC and redevelop the current site into a major real estate project.

Dubai International Airport (DXB) is making major strides towards handling 120 million passengers by heavily investing in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and facial recognition technology. The focus is on creating a seamless passenger journey while stretching the airport’s existing capacity without major new infrastructure additions.

Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, announced that once DXB reaches full capacity, operations would gradually shift to Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC), with DXB eventually being closed and redeveloped into a large-scale real estate project.

While there is no firm timeline, Griffiths emphasized that the transition would happen over the next decade, providing ample time to enhance current operations and prepare for future demands.

Dubai handled 92 million passengers in 2024 and is expected to reach 96 million by the end of 2025. Griffiths remains confident about hitting the 100 million mark by 2026, crediting technology and operational efficiencies for making this possible without expanding physical infrastructure.

Investments in AI and facial recognition are pivotal in maximizing existing capacity, making processes seamless and virtually invisible to travelers. Griffiths envisions a future where functions like check-in, security, and immigration merge into a single, non-intrusive process.

Even as plans for transition are mapped out, Dubai Airports continues investing cautiously in DXB’s upkeep, balancing modernization with financial prudence.

On the international front, Griffiths highlighted a surge in travel demand between the UAE and the United States despite global economic uncertainties. He noted an increase in seat capacity and growing passenger numbers, reflecting the robust appeal of Dubai as a global hub.

Dubai International’s strong, diversified network continues to provide resilience, balancing fluctuations across global markets and reinforcing its position as a world-leading airport.