Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC), also known as Dubai World Central, is the second airport in Dubai and the fourth busiest in the United Arab Emirates.
The airport is located in Jebel Ali, approximately 37 kilometers southwest of Dubai's city center. The driving distance between DWC and Dubai’s primary airport - Dubai International (DXB) is about 67 km.
Passenger flights at DWC began in 2013 and it has been undergoing significant expansions since then. Al Maktoum is set to become the world's largest airport upon completion in 2030 with all operations at DXB eventually moving to DWC. However, for now, passenger numbers remain low (under a million per year) compared to the size of the airport and the government’s ambitions. Anyhow, works are ongoing and much of the information in this guide may soon become outdated.
Once completed, it will be able to handle 160 million passengers annually, making it by far the busiest in the world. As of 2025, DWC only supports a number of seasonal charters and a few smaller airlines in addition to cargo and general aviation.
Major Airlines - Utair, S7 Airlines, Transavia
Since most of the major airlines use Dubai International (DXB), this leaves few and smaller airlines at Al Maktoum (DWC).
Several airlines fly between Dubai and Russia, such as Azimuth, Pobeda, Red Wings Airlines, Rossiya Airlines, S7 Airlines, Ural Airlines, and Utair.
Some low-cost airlines are also based at DWC. These include the French Transavia and the German Eurowings.
Several other smaller airlines operate regular flights to Uzbekistan, Yemen, Libya, Czechia, Iraq, Mongolia, and others.
Click here to see all airlines that use Dubai World Central.
Terminal Layout and Gates
Al Maktoum Airport currently operates just one passenger terminal. Future expansion plans include the addition of two more terminals: one designated solely for Emirates and another to serve other commercial airlines. The current terminal is and will be best suited for low-cost airlines.
Currently, only a handful of gates are operational but plans reveal that up to 400 gates will be built to serve Dubai World Central in the future. These, coupled with the 5 planned runways for simultaneous operations will ensure DWC never sleeps and serves hundreds of millions of passengers yearly.
Connecting Flights and Transit
Currently, transits are practically non-existent at Dubai Al Maktoum Airport due to the majority of flights being point-to-point and limited full-service airlines operating at the airport.
As DWC continues to expand, it aims to enhance its transit services.
See which destinations you can reach from Al Maktoum International Airport.
Wi-Fi
You can enjoy unlimited free Wi-Fi throughout the terminal by connecting to the "DWC Free Wifi" network. No further action is required and the connection is unlimited in time.
Dining Options at DWC
Food options at Al Maktoum are still limited to reflect the few daily flights that the airport handles. As improvements take hold and the number of airlines, flights, and terminals increases, there will be more and more places to eat at DWC.
For now, few establishments make sure you don’t go hungry:
McDonalds: The iconic fast food chain was one of the first to open at DWC.
Costa Coffee: For hot or cold drinks, not just coffee, small snacks, desserts, and sandwiches.
A bit outside the terminal you have Olives Restaurant serving unpretentious Indian food. Other than that, the nearby airport hotels have restaurants where you can also dine. See below for hotels near Al Maktoum Airport.
Lounges at DWC
Just one lounge is open for visitors at the time of writing: The Marhaba Lounge. It is accessible to Priority Pass holders and other eligible passengers.
The lounge offers snacks, non-alcoholic beverages, large TVs, spacious bathrooms, high-speed Wi-Fi, and a selection of newspapers and magazines. The maximum stay is limited to two hours.
Transport to and from Al Maktoum International Airport
DWC Airport is quite far from central Dubai (more than 35 km away) but in the sprawling city, many things are spread out along the coast of the Persian Gulf.
The Dubai Metro doesn’t yet get to Dubai World Central (the closest station being Expo 2020) but the F55 public bus connects it to the Ibn Battuta Metro Station, where you can transfer to the Dubai Metro's Green Line. The bus goes in both directions every 60 minutes.
For those connecting between Dubai International (DXB) and Al Maktoum (DWC), there is a free 24/7 bus service between the two airports which departs every 30 minutes. Enquire about specific timetables and pick-up locations before you travel.
Other than that, you are limited to taking a taxi from outside the terminal. A journey to Downtown Dubai takes approximately 40 minutes and costs 40-50 AED.
If you prefer to drive yourself, you can rent a car from one of the car rental agencies at DWC.
Parking at DWC
DWC offers a spacious car park with approximately 2,500 spaces, available free of charge for all passengers and visitors.
Given the low volume of flights, it remains mostly empty for now. It’s located opposite the main terminal.
Hotels near Dubai Al Maktoum Airport
There are no hotels directly inside the airport at present.
Nonetheless, you can choose from a few hotels located on the main roundabout leading up to the airport. These include:
Aloft Dubai South
Holiday Inn Dubai al-Maktoum Airport by IHG
Staybridge Suites Dubai al-Maktoum Airport, an IHG Hotel
All 3 hotels offer a complimentary shuttle service to the airport and have a restaurant.
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
