Emirates Airline will relocate all its operations from Dubai International Airport (DXB) to the upcoming Al Maktoum International Airport within a maximum of three days once the new airport becomes operational, a senior executive confirmed on Monday.
Speaking at the Emirates Group’s ForsaTEK 2025 innovation summit, Adel Al Redha, Deputy President and Chief Operations Officer of Emirates, said the transition will be swift and seamless once Al Maktoum Airport is fully functional.
“There will be a short period of time where we’re going to migrate from here [DXB] to there [Al Maktoum],” Al Redha explained during a fireside chat. “It might require, I think, a day or two — maximum, three days. The system there will be completely independent of what we have here.”
The rapid migration reflects the airline’s confidence in the new facility’s readiness and technology. Dubai authorities have previously announced that all operations will eventually shift to Al Maktoum International, currently under a Dh128-billion expansion, with the goal of becoming the world’s largest airport with a projected capacity of 260 million passengers per year once fully complete in 10 years.
Al Redha also gave insight into the cutting-edge technologies set to define the passenger experience at Al Maktoum. Highlighting the role of biometrics and automation, he revealed that travellers will be able to pass through immigration without traditional checkpoints.
“You might be walking through a ring. You won’t need to present a passport or see an attendant,” he said. “The infrastructure will be designed in a way where your movement through lounges, buggies, or trains will all be connected to your biometric identity.”
Beyond passenger experience, Emirates also plans to transform airport logistics. Al Redha said the airline intends to deploy autonomous vehicles, including self-driving trucks, to reduce reliance on human-operated transport at the airport.
“The technology is there, and the commitment is there. We’re just working to identify the right partners to implement it,” he said.
The new Al Maktoum International Airport, located in Dubai South, is positioned to be the centrepiece of the emirate’s aviation strategy, accommodating future demand and technological innovation in the aviation sector.
As Dubai begins awarding construction contracts and pushes ahead with its vision for next-generation air travel, Emirates’ ambitious transition underscores the airline’s commitment to pioneering a fully automated, tech-driven future in global aviation.
