THE GROWTH OF DXB

1959: Work to build the Dubai airport began on a vast expanse of a wasteland four kilometres from what was then the edge of the emirate.

1960: The airport comprising a sand compacted runway and a small terminal building, was opened on September 30 with a capacity to handle aircraft up to the size of a DC-3.

1983: Dubai Duty Free began operations at Dubai International. It grew from an annual turnover of $20 million in its first year to the world’s single largest airport retailer with $1.93 billion in sales in 2017.

1985: Emirates airline is launched.

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

2009: The number of passengers surpasses the 40 million-mark with traffic reaching 40.9 million. Dubai International becomes the world’s fastest-growing airport among top 50 major hubs. Work begins on Concourse 3 (now Concourse A), the A380-dedicated facility for Emirates’ super-jumbo fleet. Terminal 2 undergoes major refurbishment for the launch of flydubai, Dubai’s low-cost airline.

2010: Dubai Airports opens the first phase of Dubai World Central for cargo operations on June 27.

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

2014: DXB welcomes 70.4 million passengers in 2014 to become the world’s number one airport for international passenger traffic.

2018: DXB welcomes its one billionth international passenger.