Dubai’s ambitious Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) is shaping up to be more than just an aviation hub — it’s on track to become a next-generation transport ecosystem. One of the latest confirmed features? An underground train system designed to make passenger movement across the massive site faster and more efficient.
Speaking at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM), Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths revealed that the new airport — set to be one of the largest in the world — will be so expansive that passengers could face travel times of up to 20 minutes just to get from one part of the terminal to another. To tackle this, an underground train network with seated carriages is being developed to transport travellers smoothly across the space.
The train system will be especially important given that the future airport design includes eight smaller airports in one. This layout calls for a smart and efficient mobility solution, eliminating the need for passengers to rush between terminals.
While the completion of the full airport is expected by 2050, Phase 1 is scheduled to be ready by 2030, supporting an annual capacity of 130 million passengers. Final design decisions for the underground trains are still in progress, and it’s likely that much of the airport’s final tech features will evolve with the rapidly shifting landscape of AI and mobility.
For now, though, it’s clear that Dubai is once again thinking far ahead — ensuring that transit at Al Maktoum International isn’t just about scale, but about experience too.
