With the first phase of new Al Maktoum International Airport set for completion by 2032, the closure of Dubai International Airport (DXB) has been officially confirmed.
This transition has already sparked widespread discussion about the future of the DXB site, with experts highlighting its immense potential for redevelopment.
“Any redevelopment plan must be rooted in a data-driven understanding of Dubai’s evolving urban needs, demographic trends, and mobility patterns,” said Dr Rana Shakaa, visiting Assistant Professor in the Urban Planning Programme at American University of Sharjah.
“A forward-looking plan would focus on creating a low-carbon, mixed-use district that integrates technology not for its own sake, but to serve environmental sustainability, equitable access, and quality of life,” she added.
The idea of transforming the DXB site gained further attention during last week’s Arabian Travel Market, where Paul Griffiths, CEO of DXB, confirmed that redevelopment of the area is a key focus. “We’re right up against Sharjah in the north,” he noted, “so redeveloping the area could help spread the city out and potentially ease current traffic challenges.” He also acknowledged strong interest from real estate developers, adding that many are eager to reimagine the site’s future.
Highlighting the scale of the opportunity, Ibrahim Abdulkarim, Deputy Head of Sales – Secondary at Metropolitan Premium Properties, pointed out the vast size and strategic location of the site. “With more than 29 sq km of land, there’s significant potential for a mixed-use transformation that combines residential, commercial, hospitality, and public spaces,” he said. “Market trends, Dubai’s population growth, economic diversification, and established infrastructure will all shape how the area evolves. And finally, the area’s existing infrastructure and transport links make it a strong candidate for large-scale development.”
A model for desert cities
According to Phillip Dunn, Senior Manager of Sustainability, Education and Culture at Expo City Dubai, the site offers a rare opportunity to reimagine what urban regeneration in an arid city can look like.
“It should be transformed into a climate-resilient, biodiverse, and inclusive urban nature district — a model for desert cities globally,” he said. “This could include public spaces and rewilded zones designed for improving wellbeing and climate adaptation like cooling the city, capturing carbon, hosting diverse life, all the while providing benefits to our human health with nature as therapy.”
“It could also have a ‘Living Lab’ for urban biodiversity, sustainability technologies, and citizen science—similar to Terra—where community engagement, research, and innovation converge,” he added.
Dunn also stressed the importance of integrating nature with urban life — prioritising walkability, public transit, and a variety of housing options, particularly for mid- and low-income residents.
Dr Rana added that it was also important to not “overlook its past” as one of the world’s longest-operating airports and that preserving architectural traces and “experiential elements of the airport” was important.
“Powerful catalyst”
Some real estate developers called the opportunity a “win” situation. “This initiative is a win on every level — urban, economic, and environmental,” said Tatiana Tonu, CEO at Object 1. “The expansion of Al Maktoum International Airport is a powerful catalyst for urban development in Dubai, unlocking significant growth potential across the real estate sector.”
She gave the example of the former Tempelhof Airport in Berlin, where the shift of operations led to the repurposing of vast airport land for residential and public development. “In that case, as in Dubai’s, freeing up urban land for livable spaces marked a turning point in city planning,” she said.
