Dubai Airport: A Hub With Many Gates

Dubai International Airport (DXB) is the world's busiest airport by international passenger traffic, the busiest airport for Airbus A380 and Boeing 777 movements, and the airport with the highest average number of passengers per flight. It is spread over an area of 2,900 hectares of land and comprises three terminals: Terminal 1, Terminal 2, and Terminal 3. Terminal 3, which is used primarily by Emirates, flydubai, United, and Air Canada, includes three concourses: A Gates, B Gates, and C Gates. Terminal 1, which is connected to D Gates through an airport train, serves more than 50 international carriers and has a capacity of over 20 million passengers annually. Terminal 2 caters to scheduled, charter, and special interest flights and is currently used by around 21 airlines.

Dubai International Airport (DXB) has three terminals and three concourses

Dubai International Airport (DXB) is the world's busiest airport by international passenger traffic, the busiest airport in the Middle East, and the second-busiest airport in the world by passenger traffic. It is spread over an area of 2,900 hectares of land and has three terminals and three concourses. Terminal 1 has one concourse (Concourse D), Terminal 2 is set apart from the other two terminals, and Terminal 3 is divided into Concourse A, B, and C.

Terminal 1 is connected to Concourse D by an automated people mover and offers 221 check-in counters. It was originally built to handle 18 million passengers annually but has since been expanded to accommodate 38 million. Terminal 2 has an area of 47,000 square metres and a capacity of 10 million passengers. It is used by over 50 airlines, mainly operating in the Persian Gulf region, with most flights going to India, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. Terminal 3 is used exclusively by Emirates Airline, which handles 51% of all passenger traffic at the airport. The terminal has a capacity of 65 million passengers and offers 180 check-in counters and 2,600 car parking spaces.

Concourse A, part of Terminal 3, has a capacity of 19 million passengers and is connected to the two major public levels of Terminal 3 via a people mover. It accommodates 20 Airbus A380 gates and includes one 4-star and one 5-star hotel, first and business-class lounges, and duty-free areas. Concourse B is also part of Terminal 3 and is dedicated exclusively to Emirates. It includes 32 gates, 26 air bridges, and five boarding lounges. Concourse C, also part of Terminal 3, was the largest concourse at Dubai International Airport before the opening of Concourse B. It incorporates 50 gates, including 28 air bridges, and 22 remote gates located at a lower level of the terminal.

Terminal 1 has a capacity of 45 million passengers and is served by over 100 airlines

Terminal 1 at Dubai International Airport (DXB) is served by more than 100 airlines and has a capacity of 45 million passengers annually. The terminal is spread over an area of 520,000 square metres and offers 221 check-in counters, with separate sections for business and first-class passengers.

The terminal was originally built to handle around 18-21 million passengers a year, but due to extreme congestion, it was expanded to accommodate 38-45 million passengers annually with the addition of 28 remote gates. This expansion included upgraded baggage systems, replacement of check-in desks, and a more spacious departure hall.

Terminal 1 is connected to the Sheikh Rashid Terminal, also known as Concourse C, via a 300-metre-long underground tunnel with travelators. Concourse C was the main concourse at Dubai Airport before the opening of Concourse B in Terminal 3, and it consists of 50 gates, 28 air bridges, and 22 remote gates located at the lower level. Concourse C includes over 17 cafes and restaurants, a deluxe 5-star hotel, a business centre, a health club, and a 5,400-square-metre duty-free shopping facility.

Dubai International Airport is the busiest airport in the world by international passenger traffic, handling 87 million passengers and 1.81 million tonnes of cargo in 2023. The airport has three terminals and three concourses, with Terminals 1 and 3 directly connected, allowing airside passengers to move freely between them without passing through immigration.

Terminal 2 is for budget passengers and those flying to the Persian Gulf region and subcontinent

Terminal 2 at Dubai International Airport (DXB) is for budget passengers and those flying to the Persian Gulf region and the subcontinent. The terminal was constructed in 1998 and has an annual passenger capacity of 10 million. It is used by over 50 airlines, mainly smaller airlines operating in the Persian Gulf region. Most flights from Terminal 2 operate to India, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Terminal 2 became the hub of Air India Express and FlyDubai in June 2009, and the terminal houses the airline's corporate headquarters. The terminal has undergone a major refurbishment, extending check-in and boarding facilities, changing the interior and exterior décor, and offering more dining options to passengers. The check-in counters have been increased to 37, and the boarding area is more spacious, with more natural light. The new open boarding gates allow several flights to board simultaneously, improving passenger and aircraft movements. There are a total of 43 remote stands at the terminal.

The Dubai duty-free shopping area in Terminal 2 covers 2,400 square metres in departures and 540 square metres in arrivals. The 3,600-square-metre extension also includes a larger arrivals hall. Terminal 2 has no jet bridges, so passengers are bussed to the aircraft at gates F1-F12.

Passengers cannot move between Terminal 2 and Terminals 1 or 3 inside the airport. They must use taxi or public transport services available outside. A shuttle service runs between the terminals, with a journey time of around 20 minutes from Terminal 2 to Terminal 1 and 30 minutes to Terminal 3.

Terminal 3 is divided into Concourse A, B and C and has a capacity of 65 million passengers

Terminal 3 at Dubai International Airport (DXB) is divided into three concourses: A, B, and C. This terminal is exclusively used by Emirates, the largest airline operating at the airport, and has a capacity of 65 million passengers per year.

Concourse A, with a capacity of 19 million passengers, is connected to the two major public levels of Terminal 3 via an automated people mover. It features 20 gates capable of handling the Airbus A380, with all gates equipped with jet bridges. The concourse includes one 4-star and one 5-star hotel, first and business class lounges, duty-free shopping areas, restaurants, and cafes.

Concourse B is dedicated exclusively to Emirates and Qantas Airways, which has an extensive code-sharing agreement with Emirates. It features 32 gates, with 26 equipped with jet bridges, and five boarding lounges for remote stands. The concourse includes the Emirates first and business class lounges, as well as the Marhaba Lounge. There are three hotels within the concourse, including a 5-star and a 4-star hotel.

Concourse C, also known as the Sheikh Rashid Terminal, was the main concourse at Dubai Airport before the opening of Concourse B. It features 50 gates, including 28 air bridges and 22 remote gates located at a lower level. The concourse includes a 5-star hotel, a 5,400-square-metre duty-free shopping facility, a medical centre, prayer rooms, and over 17 food and beverage cafes and restaurants. Emirates continues to maintain a presence in Concourse C, operating 12 gates and offering first and business class lounges.

Terminal 3, with its three concourses, plays a crucial role in making DXB the busiest airport in the world by international passenger traffic. Emirates handles 51% of all passenger traffic and accounts for approximately 42% of aircraft movements at the airport. The efficient management of this terminal and its concourses is essential to ensuring the smooth flow of passengers and maintaining DXB's position as a leading global aviation hub.

Concourse D will bring the airport's total capacity to over 90 million passengers

Dubai International Airport (DXB) is the world's busiest airport by international passenger traffic, the busiest airport in the Middle East, and the second-busiest airport in the world by passenger traffic. It is spread over an area of 2,900 hectares of land and comprises three terminals: Terminal 1, Terminal 2, and Terminal 3.

Terminal 1 is connected to Concourse D through an airport train and has a capacity of over 20 million passengers annually. Terminal 2 caters to scheduled, charter, and special interest flights and is used by over 21 airlines. Terminal 3 is shared by Emirates, flydubai, Air Canada, United Airlines, and Qantas Airways Limited.

In May 2011, the CEO of Dubai Airports, Paul Griffiths, revealed the Dubai Airport master plan, which included the construction of Concourse D (previously referred to as Terminal 4). With a capacity of 15 million passengers, Concourse D would increase the overall capacity of the airport to over 90 million passengers annually. The construction of Concourse D was completed, and it opened on February 24, 2016, for all international airlines.

Concourse D is connected to Terminal 1 via an automated people mover. It includes 17 gates and is designed to accommodate multi-level boarding, offering direct aircraft access from the lounges. The total retail space in Concourse D is approximately 11,000 square meters, and there are 14 cafes and restaurants within the concourse.

The completion of Concourse D allowed for a shift in operations at the airport. Emirates began to solely operate from Concourses A, B, and C, all under Terminal 3, while flydubai operates from Terminal 2 (Concourse F).

Frequently asked questions