DIA has confirmed that the new Terminal 3 will open on October 14, but not completely.
The Emirates-only building will become fully operational in four phases to ‘make absolutely sure that all the systems and processes at Terminal 3 are working smoothly’, according to Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports.
Hailed as ‘the world’s most modern airport terminal’, Terminal 3 will feature express check-ins for travellers with hand luggage only, quick-baggage drop counters, instruction videos, improved screening machines and e-gate registration facilities in both arrivals and departures.
According to airport authorities, the new facility will increase their yearly capacity to 60 million passengers - almost double last year’s recorded figure of 34 million.
A series of ‘operational readiness trials’ are currently being carried out ahead of the October opening. On August 9, over 2,200 men, women and children moved through the building in order to test traffic flow, way-finding signage, police, immigration and customs.
The airport plans to conduct a similar test at the end of August, followed by another in September. 15,000 people registered at www.efast.ae/trials, 11,000 more than was needed for the tests.
For more information visit www.dubaiairport.com or www.emirates.com.