Paul Griffiths said there have been no changes to Dubai’s long-term aviation plans.

Plans for the first phase of the Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) expansion remain unchanged and are fully on track for completion by the original schedule, according to the Dubai Airports chief.
Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, which manages both Dubai World Central (DWC) and Dubai International Airport (DXB), said in a social media post on Friday that the vision for the new airport remains “firmly on track” and that its “ambition remains unchanged.”
In a LinkedIn post, he added that over the past few weeks he had been asked whether recent events had affected Dubai’s long-term aviation plans, and responded that the answer is simple: “no.”
Dubai World Central (DWC) has been handling passenger operations since 2013, but is set to undergo a second phase of expansion that will eventually accommodate up to 150 million passengers annually, according to Dubai Airports. The first phase is scheduled for completion by 2032, after which operations will gradually transition from Dubai International Airport (DXB) to the new facility.
Griffiths reiterated that the long-term vision remains unchanged, saying his confidence in Dubai’s aviation sector is “as strong as ever.” He added that while periods of uncertainty come and go, what matters is continuing to invest, build, and look ahead.
He further said, “That is exactly what Dubai has always done, and exactly what we will continue to do.”


