Al Maktoum International to Feature High-Speed Underground Trains for Smoother Passenger Movement
The new Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC), set to become the world’s largest airport, will feature an advanced underground train network designed to significantly reduce walking time and improve the overall passenger experience. The system was revealed during a session at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) by Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports.
Griffiths explained that the train system, currently under development, will allow passengers to travel across the massive Dh128-billion facility in just 20 minutes. "The underground system will be very comprehensive and pretty quick to reduce travel distance,” he noted. “We must ensure that it’s fast, efficient, and competitive in terms of transporting transfer passengers.”
Given the vast scale of the new airport, the internal rail system will include seated trains, offering comfort on journeys expected to last between 15 to 20 minutes. This innovation is part of a broader plan to reimagine airport design and flow, creating a balance between intimacy and scale in passenger transit.
Griffiths shared a vision for a modern travel experience at DWC. “Imagine sitting in a lounge with a glass canopy, watching your plane through a transparent ceiling. We’re exploring projecting aircraft destinations on the glass so passengers can identify their flights easily—like knowing that’s your plane to New York just a couple of hundred meters away.”
He also emphasized the use of artificial intelligence to optimize passenger logistics and operations. AI will be employed to ensure a seamless flow, minimizing delays and maximizing efficiency at every point of the journey.
On a broader scale, all operations currently based at Dubai International Airport (DXB) will transition to DWC within the next ten years, as confirmed by airport officials. Griffiths added that plans are underway to redevelop DXB’s existing location, with the move expected to ease congestion and help spread urban growth more evenly, especially toward northern regions like Sharjah.
On Tuesday, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman of Dubai Airports and Emirates Airline, announced that contract awards for DWC have already commenced, signaling a significant milestone in the airport’s development journey.
With its forward-thinking design, high-speed underground mobility, and smart integration of AI, Al Maktoum International Airport is poised to redefine global travel infrastructure.
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