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Dubai Airports Company

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Dubai Airports Company is the airport authority responsible for owning and managing Dubai International Airport and Al Maktoum International Airport.

Last updated August 31, 2026

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Overview

Dubai Airports Company is the airport authority established to own and manage Dubai’s principal commercial airports. Its portfolio includes Dubai International Airport and Al Maktoum International Airport at Dubai World Central in Jebel Ali. The company was structured in 2008 by Dubai Aviation City Corporation, reflecting Dubai’s effort to place airport ownership, development, operations, and related commercial activities within a dedicated airport-management organization. The company’s role extends beyond the operation of passenger terminals. Its activities are organized through business and support units covering cargo, finance, human resources, marketing, information technology, engineering, and commercial functions. Airport cargo infrastructure is an important part of this remit. In 2008, the expanded facilities at Dubai Cargo Village were renamed the Dubai International Airport Cargo Gateway, with the expansion raising stated annual cargo-handling capacity to 2.7 million tonnes. Further cargo development was planned at Al Maktoum International Airport through the Al Maktoum Airport Cargo Gateway, including a reported $75 million terminal project and a long-term capacity objective exceeding 12 million tonnes annually. Al Maktoum International Airport has been a central development priority. In 2016, Dubai Airports began work on an expansion that increased the airport’s stated built area from 66,107 square metres to 145,926 square metres. The airport forms part of Dubai World Central, the broader aviation and logistics development in Jebel Ali, and is intended to support the emirate’s long-term growth in passenger and cargo aviation. Dubai International Airport, meanwhile, remains the established hub within the company’s airport portfolio. Technology and operational resilience also feature in the company’s development plans. In 2017, Dubai Airports began implementing two modular data-centre facilities, each measuring 3,600 square metres. The facilities were designed to raise data availability to 99.82%, corresponding to a maximum annual downtime of approximately 95 minutes. The investment was associated with the Dubai Plus plan, which sought to provide the technical infrastructure required for the expected expansion of Dubai’s airports and their associated digital systems. Dubai Airports operates within a wider public aviation structure. The Department of Civil Aviation in Dubai remains responsible for aviation regulation and permissions, while Dubai Airports focuses on airport ownership, management, development, and commercial activity. The emirate’s open-skies policy, which permits airlines to establish services in Dubai, supports the airport authority’s role in expanding connectivity and cargo flows. Airport infrastructure and aviation logistics are consequently significant components of Dubai’s economic strategy. The available reference material also identifies the combined contribution of Emirates and Dubai Airports Company as representing 26% of the United Arab Emirates’ gross domestic product in 2011, although no more recent financial or economic measure is provided here.

History

Dubai Airports Company was structured in 2008 by Dubai Aviation City Corporation to take responsibility for Dubai’s principal airport assets and development activities. Its initial remit covered Dubai International Airport, the planned and developing Al Maktoum International Airport at Dubai World Central in Jebel Ali, and Dubai Cargo Village. The creation of a dedicated airport authority reflected the expanding role of aviation and logistics in Dubai’s economic-development plans. A major element of the company’s early activity was the development of cargo infrastructure. The expansion of Dubai Cargo Village was renamed the Dubai International Airport Cargo Gateway in 2008, with the stated effect of increasing annual cargo capacity to 2.7 million tonnes. Additional cargo infrastructure was planned at Al Maktoum International Airport. The proposed Al Maktoum Airport Cargo Gateway included a terminal project valued at $75 million in the reference material and a longer-term handling objective of more than 12 million tonnes per year. These projects linked airport management with Dubai’s broader ambition to function as an international freight and logistics centre. The development of Al Maktoum International Airport became more prominent during the 2010s. In 2016, Dubai Airports began an expansion of the airport that increased the stated area from 66,107 square metres to 145,926 square metres. The project formed part of the continuing build-out of Dubai World Central in Jebel Ali, where passenger aviation and cargo operations were being developed together. The company also invested in the digital and technical systems needed to support airport growth. In 2017, it began implementing two modular data-centre facilities measuring 3,600 square metres each. The facilities were intended to improve system resilience and raise data availability to 99.82%, equivalent to a maximum annual downtime of about 95 minutes. The investment was presented as part of the Dubai Plus plan, which aimed to secure sufficient technology infrastructure for the anticipated expansion and increasing complexity of Dubai’s airports. Organizationally, Dubai Airports Company is divided into operating and supporting units. Cargo is one of the identified business units, alongside functions such as finance, human resources, marketing, information technology, engineering, and commercial operations. Regulatory responsibilities remain with the Department of Civil Aviation in Dubai, which handles aviation regulation and permissions. This division distinguishes the company’s operational and development role from the government’s regulatory role. Dubai Airports’ history is closely connected to Dubai’s open-skies aviation policy and its strategy of using airport connectivity, airline operations, and logistics to support economic growth. The reference material identifies Emirates and Dubai Airports Company together as accounting for 26% of the United Arab Emirates’ GDP in 2011. No later financial figures, ownership restructuring, leadership information, or confirmed subsequent development milestones are supplied in the available materials.

  • 2017

    Modular airport data-centre project begins

    [1]

    Two modular data-centre facilities, each measuring 3,600 square metres, began implementation under the Dubai Plus plan to improve the availability and resilience of airport information systems.

  • 2016

    Al Maktoum International Airport expansion begins

    [1]

    Dubai Airports began an expansion that increased the airport’s stated area from 66,107 to 145,926 square metres.

  • 2008

    Company structured to manage Dubai airport assets

    [1]

    Dubai Airports Company was structured by Dubai Aviation City Corporation to take control of Dubai International Airport, Al Maktoum International Airport, and Dubai Cargo Village.

  • 2008

    Dubai International Airport Cargo Gateway established

    [1]

    The expanded Dubai Cargo Village facilities were renamed the Dubai International Airport Cargo Gateway, with stated annual cargo capacity of 2.7 million tonnes.

Products and positioning

A public-sector airport owner and manager focused on Dubai’s passenger-airport, cargo, infrastructure, technology, and aviation-logistics development.

  • Airport

    Dubai International Airport

    Dubai International Airport is one of the principal airport assets owned and managed by Dubai Airports Company. It is the established international airport serving Dubai and forms the core of the company’s passenger-aviation portfolio. The available material does not provide a complete terminal, airline, passenger, or financial profile, but identifies the airport as part of the company’s original 2008 management remit.

  • Airport

    Al Maktoum International Airport

    Al Maktoum International Airport is the newer airport in Dubai Airports Company’s portfolio, located at Dubai World Central in Jebel Ali. It is being developed within a wider aviation and logistics zone and has been associated with passenger and cargo expansion. In 2016, the company began an expansion that increased the stated airport area from 66,107 to 145,926 square metres.

  • Cargo airport facility · 2008

    Dubai International Airport Cargo Gateway

    The Dubai International Airport Cargo Gateway is the renamed and expanded cargo facility formerly associated with Dubai Cargo Village. The 2008 expansion was described as increasing annual cargo-handling capacity to 2.7 million tonnes, reinforcing Dubai International Airport’s role in the emirate’s air-freight and logistics network.

  • Cargo terminal

    Al Maktoum Airport Cargo Gateway

    The Al Maktoum Airport Cargo Gateway is a planned cargo-terminal development associated with Al Maktoum International Airport. The reference material describes a proposed $75 million terminal and a longer-term capacity objective of more than 12 million tonnes of cargo annually. The available source does not establish the project’s final completion status or current operating capacity.

Brand decisions

  • 2017

    Invest in resilient airport data infrastructureStrategy

    Background

    The projected growth of Dubai’s airports required more reliable technical and information-technology infrastructure.

    Action taken

    Dubai Airports began implementing two modular data-centre facilities, each measuring 3,600 square metres, as part of the Dubai Plus plan.

    Aftermath

    The facilities were intended to raise data availability to 99.82%, with a stated maximum annual downtime of approximately 95 minutes.

  • 2016

    Expand Al Maktoum International AirportGeneration change

    Background

    Al Maktoum International Airport was being developed as part of Dubai World Central’s aviation and logistics infrastructure.

    Action taken

    Dubai Airports began an expansion that increased the stated area of the airport from 66,107 to 145,926 square metres.

    Aftermath

    The expansion supported the airport’s planned role in Dubai’s long-term passenger and cargo aviation capacity, although the available material does not provide final project outcomes.

  • 2008

    Centralize airport ownership and managementStrategy

    Background

    Dubai’s airport and logistics infrastructure was expanding, including Dubai International Airport, Al Maktoum International Airport, and Dubai Cargo Village.

    Action taken

    Dubai Aviation City Corporation structured Dubai Airports Company to manage the principal airport assets and related development activities.

    Aftermath

    The company became the dedicated airport authority for Dubai’s major airports, while the Department of Civil Aviation retained regulatory and permissions responsibilities.

Recent events

  • Reported

    Dubai Airports appoints Majed Al Joker as COO[2]

    Dubai Airports announced the appointment of Majed Al Joker as its chief operating officer.

  • Reported

    Adidas inaugurates airport running track[3]

    Adidas inaugurated a running track in the arrivals area of a busy Dubai airport terminal in collaboration with Dubai Airports and JCDecaux. The activation encourages travelers to walk the track, and Adidas is offering complimentary sneaker customization to those who do.

  • Unconfirmed

    Reported

    Dubai Airports launches DXB&more mobile ordering service[4]

    Dubai Airports introduced DXB&more, a mobile food, beverage and retail ordering service at Dubai International Airport, in partnership with Dubai Duty Free and Servy. Passengers at Terminal 3, B and C gates can order for delivery to a gate or lounge, or collect orders from an outlet.

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