Latest news with #DubaiAirport
Khaleej Times
24-05-2025
- Automotive
- Khaleej Times
Dubai: Parked car catches fire at DXB; no injuries reported
Authorities immediately responded to the incident and put out the fire A parked SUV at Dubai International Aiport Terminal 1 caught fire on Saturday midday. Authorities immediately responded to the incident and put out the fire. The fire was immediately extinguished and no injuries were reported.
Khaleej Times
20-05-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
Travelling through Dubai airport? Soon, check in your luggage from anywhere in UAE
You could soon be checking in your baggage from anywhere in the city to travel from Dubai Airport (DXB). That is because DXB wants to make sure that at least 25 per cent of luggage is checked in from outside the airport facility. 'We handled 24 million bags this quarter, so we're going to exceed 100 million bags in Dubai this year,' said Ciaran O'Sullivan, DVP Airline Services UAE Airport Operations at Dnata. 'If we could have 20 per cent of them, that is one in five bags, to be checked in off-site here in Dubai, the impact on customer service experience at the airport would be tenfold.' Ciaran was speaking during a panel discussion at The Airport Show, which began in Dubai on Tuesday. He added that the airport was hoping to scale their partnership with the company Dubz — which allows travellers to check in and receive their boarding pass from a home or a hotel — to achieve this. 'They satisfy thousands of customers a year but we need to get scale so that we can bring the unit price down,' he said. 'By working with the RTA, the metro system, Dubai Airport, holiday companies, hotels and the masses, we can do a lot.' Launched in 2016, Dubz provides a baggage collection and delivery service that can be booked online at any time. After being selected the winner of an aviation and travel incubator program co-founded by the Emirates Group, GE, and Dubai Tourism, the company was acquired by Dnata. Passenger perception According to John Dyett, Vice President of Baggage Service Delivery at DXB, ensuring proper handling of baggage is of utmost importance for the airport. 'Baggage handling often defines a passenger's perception of an airport,' he said. 'We need to think what steps can airports take to minimise mishandling while enhancing speed and predictability?' He added that the airport handles approximately 250,000 bags every day, going up to 300,000 on busy days in the first quarter of this year. Several airports in the world have been using AI to ensure timely delivery of baggage, Dr Heba Kurdi, research affiliate of Artificial Intelligence at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), added. 'There are already some airports who are utilising semi-smart sorting systems for their baggage,' she said. 'We also have AI-powered simulation and digital twins that help airports to do and test operations before, like having them in real-life scenarios.' Another expert at the event, Amel Chadli, president of Gulf Countries, Schneider Electric, called the vision of Dubai Airport 'forward thinking' and something that will improve the experience of passengers. 'Dubai Airport's push for off-terminal baggage check-in is a forward-thinking move that can ease terminal congestion, boost operational efficiency, and elevate the passenger journey,' she said. 'Across the international airports we support, we've seen that smart automation, energy-efficient systems, and advanced distribution management are key to streamlining ground handling and enabling a seamless travel experience."
Arabian Post
15-05-2025
- Business
- Arabian Post
Dubai Unveils Dual-Zone Strategy to Enhance Urban Safety and Sustainability
Dubai has announced a comprehensive zoning initiative under its 2040 Urban Master Plan, dividing the emirate into distinct urban and rural zones. This strategic move aims to bolster public safety, optimise emergency response times, and promote sustainable development across the region. Urban zones, encompassing areas such as Downtown Dubai and Business Bay, will see a significant enhancement in security infrastructure. The deployment of advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence and extensive video surveillance systems, is set to augment law enforcement capabilities. These measures are anticipated to reduce emergency response times by 20 to 30 percent, aligning with the city's commitment to leveraging technology for public safety improvements. Conversely, rural zones like Al Marmoom will focus on environmental conservation and rapid emergency response. Al Marmoom Desert Conservation Reserve, which constitutes approximately 10 percent of Dubai's land area, is a critical habitat for numerous endangered species and migratory birds. The reserve's management will prioritise ecological preservation while ensuring that emergency services are readily accessible to address any incidents promptly. This zoning strategy is a pivotal component of the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan, which envisions a sustainable and resilient urban landscape. The plan outlines the development of five major urban centres, including existing hubs like Deira and Bur Dubai, as well as new centres in Expo City and Dubai Silicon Oasis. These areas are designated to become focal points for economic activity, innovation, and cultural exchange. A key feature of the master plan is the '20-minute city' concept, designed to ensure that residents can access essential services and amenities within a 20-minute walk or bicycle ride. This initiative aims to reduce reliance on private vehicles, decrease traffic congestion, and lower carbon emissions, thereby enhancing the overall quality of life for residents. See also FIX Chocolate Reopens at Dubai Airport Amid Eid Travel Surge Environmental sustainability is at the forefront of the master plan, with a goal to designate 60 percent of Dubai's land as nature reserves and rural natural areas. The expansion of green spaces and public parks is intended to provide residents with increased recreational opportunities and improve air quality. Additionally, the length of public beaches is set to increase by 400 percent, further enhancing the city's appeal as a global destination.
The Independent
08-05-2025
- Business
- The Independent
World's busiest airport for international travel to close
Dubai International Airport (DXB) will eventually close, and all operations will move to Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC). DWC is undergoing a $35 billion expansion to increase its capacity to 260 million passengers annually. The move is part of a long-term plan, with the new DWC terminal expected to open in 2032 and full expansion continuing into the 2050s. DXB, currently the world's busiest airport for international travel, handled a record 92.3 million passengers in 2024. The decision to consolidate operations stems from the close proximity of the two airports and DXB's limited expansion capacity.
The Independent
07-05-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Why Dubai is shutting its main airport
Dubai International Airport (DBX) is set to close, with UK travellers rerouted to the city's second airfield – once its $35 billion expansion is complete. Flights out of the popular UAE aviation hub will be moved as part of long-term plans to make Dubai's Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) five times the size of DBX. Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, confirmed that DBX will close, with every service moving to DWC, at the Arabian Travel Market last week. He said that there is 'little sense in operating two major hubs with such close proximity to one another'. A record 92.3 million passengers passed through terminals at DBX, the world's busiest airport for international travel, in 2024. The increase in footfall from international tourists has put new pressure on the capacity of DXB, which is constrained on all sides by residential neighbourhoods and two major highways. Last April, UAE Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum announced that aviation operations would move to the city's second airfield. DWC opened in 2010 with one terminal, 28 miles from DXB, and is backed by an empty desert. The airport has been primarily used for cargo airlines in the last 15 years. According to plans, the expanded airport will include five parallel runways and 400 aircraft gates – currently, flights take off and land on just two runways, the same as at DBX. However, the new terminal at Al Maktoum is not set to open until 2032, with expansion work expected to continue into the 2050s. Once complete, DWC will have the capacity to welcome 260 million annual passengers. Dubai, a popular winter sun and relocation destination in the Middle East, is a firm favourite among UK holidaymakers, with an estimated 17,000 UK nationals arriving daily in the UAE hotspot. DBX, which first opened in 1960, will be nearing the 'end of its useful operating role' by the end of DWC development, said Griffiths. For now, the airport remains the emirate's primary aviation hub, with airlines including British Airways and Emirates both operating popular flight paths to DBX from the UK for the foreseeable future. The full transition in operations to Al Maktoum International will take place gradually over the coming decades.
