DXB

DXB officially opened on 30 September 1960, beginning life with a single 1,800 metre runway of compacted sand, able to handle aircraft no larger than a Douglas DC-3. An asphalt runway followed in 1965, opening the airport to early jet traffic. What started as a modest desert airfield has, in little more than six decades, become the world's leading airport for international passenger traffic.

The airport operates two parallel runways, designated 12L/30R and 12R/30L. Both measure 4,000 metres by 60 metres, long enough to accept the largest aircraft flying today, fully loaded, on long-haul departures. The pair generally works in a split role, one handling arrivals and the other departures, which is part of how DXB sustains such high movement rates from only two strips of asphalt. The field sits at a low elevation of around 62 feet above sea level, which keeps takeoff performance strong year-round.

DXB is extraordinarily busy. It welcomed 92.3 million passengers in 2024 and a record 95.2 million in 2025, the highest annual international passenger traffic ever recorded by any airport, across roughly 440,000 aircraft movements a year. Its built capacity is around 115 million passengers annually, which means it now runs close to the edge of its physical limits while maintaining a remarkably consistent operation. For private travellers this matters mainly in one respect: at a field this active, slots and timing reward planning, and that is precisely what we manage on your behalf.

Yes. DXB is a true twenty-four-hour airport, with movements at every hour of the day and night. For private travel this is a genuine advantage: late departures, early arrivals, and time-zone-driven schedules are all accommodated without curfew restrictions at the Dubai end. The variables that remain are aircraft availability, crew duty limits, and the operating hours and any noise rules at your destination, which is why we always check both ends of a journey before confirming a departure time.

A confirmed aircraft can often be arranged within a few hours when one is positioned nearby, and same-day departures from Dubai are routinely possible. That said, booking two to three days ahead gives the widest choice of aircraft, the most competitive pricing, and the smoothest handling of slots, permits, and crew. For peak periods, major events, and popular seasonal routes, earlier is always better. Andreea is glad to hold options for you while plans firm up.

The ideal aircraft depends on three things: how far you are flying, how many are travelling, and the comfort you want for the time aloft. Light jets suit short regional hops, midsize and super-midsize aircraft handle medium legs with a full cabin, and heavy or ultra-long-range jets are built for the kind of intercontinental sectors DXB is known for, flown without a fuel stop. We curate the right class for each leg rather than the largest available, so you pay for capability that matches the journey.

Private charter is priced by the trip, shaped by aircraft category, flight time, positioning, airport fees, and crew duty. As a guide, a short light-jet hop sits in the lower thousands, while ultra-long-range intercontinental flights run well into five and six figures. From Dubai, where many sectors are long-haul, a heavy or ultra-long-range aircraft is often the sensible choice. We provide a clear, all-in quote with no hidden extras, so the figure you see is the figure you fly on.

Far less than you are used to. Through a private terminal you typically arrive fifteen to thirty minutes before departure, step through a calm private lounge, and board directly. Security and immigration are handled discreetly and without queues. For international departures from DXB the formalities are still completed, simply in a fraction of the time, which is much of the point.

Capacity is set by the aircraft rather than a fixed per-passenger rule, so it pays to tell us what you are bringing. Light jets are generous for a weekend; larger cabins comfortably carry full luggage for everyone aboard, plus golf clubs, skis, or other oversized items. Because Dubai trips often pair business with leisure, we plan baggage at the quoting stage and match you to an aircraft with the hold to suit, so nothing is left behind.

In most cases, yes, and gladly. One of private aviation's real pleasures is that well-behaved pets travel in the cabin beside you rather than in a hold. Each country sets its own entry rules on vaccinations, microchips, and paperwork, and the UAE is no exception, so we confirm requirements for both ends of the journey in advance. Share your travel companion's details early and we will handle the documentation so boarding is seamless.

At a high-traffic hub, slots are the mechanism that keeps a very large number of movements safe, orderly, and on time. They allocate precise windows for arrival and departure so that two intensely used runways can serve hundreds of thousands of flights a year without conflict. For a private trip this rarely creates friction, because securing and coordinating the right slot is part of what we handle for you. The practical point for the traveller is simply that a confirmed time at a busy airport is worth planning slightly ahead for, and we do that planning so you do not have to.

It is among the best equipped in the world for it. The airport pairs round-the-clock operation, long runways suited to any aircraft, and dedicated private facilities with a location just minutes from the heart of the city. For longer or more flexible itineraries, the second Dubai field at Al Maktoum International (DWC, OMDW) to the south offers an uncongested alternative with ample space. We advise on which of the two suits a given trip, balancing convenience, timing, and the onward journey at your destination.