Dubai Airport: The incredible transformation in photos from 1960 to now

1959—Work to build ‘Dubai airport’ began on a vast expanse of wasteland some 4km from the edge of the city of Dubai.

1960 – The airport comprising a sand compacted runway and a small terminal building was opened on September 30 and was capable of handling aircraft up to the size of a DC-3.

1963 – Work to build an asphalt runway began. It opened in 1965 with numerous other newly built or refurbished facilities. Above, passengers boarding a Middle East Airlines flight at Dubai International Airport.

1970—The 1970s witnessed many developments across DXB, starting with a new three-storey terminal building, a new control tower, additional taxiways, a lengthening of the runway, extension of aprons, airfield lighting, and landing instruments.

Dubai Airport lounge in 1970s.

1980 – On 23 December 1980, Dubai Airport became an ordinary member of the Airports Council International (ACI).

1981: Dubai International Airport. The monumental growth of the airport, which started off handling only three flights daily, is testimony to the UAE’s success story.

1981: View of Dubai International Airport.

1985 – Emirates operated its first flights from Dubai to Karachi and Mumbai, using a Boeing 737 and an Airbus 300 B4 wet-leased from Pakistan International Airlines.

1988 – Passenger throughput at the airport reached 4.3m and more than doubled in a decade to 9.7 million by 1998.

2000 – The opening of Concourse 1 (now Concourse C), marked the start of a new chapter in Dubai’s aviation history. Built as part of the first phase of the general expansion project at a cost of AED2 billion, the Terminal increased the Airport’s capacity from 10 million to 23 million.

2005: Terminal 3, Concourse B under construction.

2008 – Dubai Airports opened the much-awaited DXB Terminal 3 for the exclusive use of Emirates airline. The flawless opening of the world’s largest single terminal expanded DXB’s capacity to 60 million and won the airport accolades from passengers and the aviation industry worldwide.

2009 – Terminal 2 undergoes major refurbishment for the launch of flydubai, Dubai’s own low-cost airline.

2013 – Concourse A, the world’s largest facility purpose built for the A380 opens at DXB.

2019 – Dubai Airport retains title of the world’s busiest airport for international passengers for the 5th consecutive year with 89.1m passengers in 2018.

2020 – Dubai Airport celebrates 60th Anniversary.

2023 – Dubai Airport held its position as the world’s number one airport for international passengers for the 9th year running.

2025 - Dubai Airport records 92.3 million guests in 2024 annual traffic, the highest in its 65-year history.