Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, has outlined the hub’s priority to capitalise on the growth of the global airfreight industry and Dubai’s strategic hub within it to develop a new hub, giving the region the two largest international airports in the world.
“Not content with just having announced DXB as the world’s largest international airport for the 11th year running, we are committed to building the world’s largest airport, not once, but twice,” Griffiths said, speaking at the 2025 World Cargo Symposium.
“Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC), when complete, will handle 12 million tonnes of freight capacity, with five runways and 400 staff.”
Already open, with over 60 freighter operations utilising the facility, Griffiths wants to go beyond the focus on size to ensure that the facilities are the “World’s most advanced.”
“Intelligence is key,” Griffiths explained. “Agility is the currency of modern logistics.”
“The cargo platform gives real time tracking and digital documentation. We’ve got drones auditing inventory, giving faster service, fewer areas, greater levels of information. AI is playing its part in forecasting cargo flows and speeding things up and making our products more flexible.
Meeting demand
e-commerce and shipments from small and medium enterprises are booming across the world, with Dubai Airports having developed terminals that are built for express courier services.
Tapping into the pharmaceutical sector, Dubai is supported by Emirates SkyCargo’s pharma product but it goes beyond the cool chain to what Griffiths labelled a “life chain.”
Sustainable ecosystems are also in the mind of officials at Dubai Airports, as they look to show true progress through the rollout of electric and biodiesel ground handling equipment at its cargo hubs, showcasing how this greener mindset is embedded in every aspect of the company’s operations.
“The idea is to build a cleaner, smarter and more resilient future,” Griffiths explained, “So cargo is business powered, saves lives, connects continents.
“Dubai Airports is enabling global trade with speed, scale and responsibility and the event here is Dubai is not just responding to what’s next, it’s determining the future and shaping it.
