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Data source: OurAirports (2026-09-01 Snapshot) · Methodology & Verification →

Dubai International Airport

Compiled by

Dubai, Dubai Emirate (United Arab Emirates)
IATA: DXB ICAO: OMDB
Longest Active Runway
14,590 ft
4,447 meters
Field Elevation
62 ft
19 m MSL
Runway Inventory
2 active
Lighted / Paved
Coordinates & Class
25.2498°, 55.3710°
LARGE AIRPORT
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Multi-Universe Rankings & Statistical Standing

How ranks work →
RunwayFacts Published Dataset
#15 of 650
In curated primary commercial index
Global Commercial Universe
#29 of 7558
Top 0.4% percentile worldwide
National Standing (United Arab Emirates)
#2 of 7 in AE
#2 of 12 in full national registry
vs Large Airport Median
+45.9%
Compared to 10,000 ft baseline
💡 DXB in numbers: 14,590 ft longest runway · #15 of 650 published · #29 of 7,558 worldwide (top 0.4%) · #2 in United Arab Emirates.
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Editorial Aerodrome Deep Dive: Dubai International Airport (DXB)

Curated Aerodrome Profile

Dubai International Airport processes the world's highest volume of international passenger traffic, operating 24 hours a day without nocturnal noise curfews. Its dual parallel runways are optimized for continuous heavy wake-turbulence separation, supporting massive concurrent waves of widebody aircraft departing to Europe, Asia, Australia, and the Americas. The extraordinary 14,599 ft length of 12R/30L counters thermal lift decay during scorching midday desert flight dispatches.

Runway Layout & Magnetic Alignments
Dual parallel closely spaced runways 12L/30R (13,123 ft / 4,000 m) and 12R/30L (14,599 ft / 4,450 m).
Expansion Milestones & Predecessor Facilities
Established in 1960 with a compacted sand runway, rapidly transitioning to asphalt in 1965. Underwent monumental expansions with Terminal 3 and Concourse A—the world's first purpose-built Airbus A380 facility.
Regional Differentiation & Cluster Role
Acts as the global super-connector hub for Emirates Airline, positioned just 10 NM south of Sharjah International (SHJ) and 24 NM north of Dubai World Central (DWC).
Data Nuances & Operational Quirks
Airspace congestion over the UAE requires tight slot management; summer surface temperatures approaching 48°C demand Runway 12R's full 14,599 ft length for long-haul gross weight takeoffs.
📚 Official Aerodrome Sourcing: UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) · United Arab Emirates Aeronautical Information Publication (UAE AIP)
Verification Methodology →

🔬 Operational & Aerodrome Engineering Comparative Analysis

Longest runway ≥10,500 ft
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Elevation & National Context

Lowland Aerodrome (<2,000 ft)

DXB lies at 19 m (62 ft), #491 of 650 published airports by elevation and 21.8 percentile among 7,558 worldwide. It is 49 ft below the United Arab Emirates median (111 ft, 7 airports); AAN is highest at 869 ft, 807 ft higher than DXB.

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Regional Density & Alternates (100 NM)

8 Qualifying Aerodromes in Vicinity

Closest of 8 paved-runway (≥5,000 ft) neighbours within 100 NM: Sharjah International Airport (SHJ), 9.2 NM, 13,320 ft. Next: DWC 24.1 NM, RKT 37.7 NM, FJR 52.7 NM. DWC has the radius's longest runway, 174 ft more than DXB.

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Runway Inventory & National Standing

Primary Runway: 14,590 ft (4,447 m)

DXB runways: 12R/30L 14,590 × 197 ft asphalt (asp); 12L/30R 14,275 × 197 ft asphalt (asp). National standing: #2 of 7 in United Arab Emirates; DWC leads by 174 ft (14,764 ft). +45.9% vs the 10,000 ft baseline.

🛫 Physical Runway Inventory & Surface Engineering

Runway Designator Length (ft / m) Width (ft / m) Surface Material Lighting Status
12R/30L 14,590 ft (4447 m / 4.447 km) 197 ft (60m) Asphalt (ASP) ✅ Lighted ✅ Active
12L/30R 14,275 ft (4351 m / 4.351 km) 197 ft (60m) Asphalt (ASP) ✅ Lighted ✅ Active

🧭 Comparative Aerodromes (100 NM Radius, ≥5,000 ft Paved)

Great-circle Haversine spatial proximity matching for commercial facilities with paved runway capacity within 100 NM.

Aerodrome Name IATA Distance Longest Runway Lighting
Sharjah International Airport (Sharjah) SHJ 9.2 NM (17 km) 13,320 ft ✅ Lighted
Al Maktoum International Airport (Dubai(Jebel Ali)) DWC 24.1 NM (44.6 km) 14,764 ft ✅ Lighted
Ras Al Khaimah International Airport (Ras Al Khaimah) RKT 37.7 NM (69.8 km) 12,336 ft ✅ Lighted
Fujairah International Airport (Fujairah) FJR 52.7 NM (97.6 km) 10,007 ft ✅ Lighted
Al Ain International Airport (Al Ain) AAN 60.7 NM (112.4 km) 13,123 ft ✅ Lighted
Zayed International Airport (Abu Dhabi) AUH 62.5 NM (115.8 km) 13,471 ft ✅ Lighted
Suhar International Airport (Suhar) OHS 85.8 NM (158.9 km) 13,173 ft ✅ Lighted
Qeshm International Airport (Qeshm(Dayrestan)) GSM 94.8 NM (175.6 km) 13,864 ft ✅ Lighted

🛡️ Source: OurAirports Open Aviation Database, snapshot 2026-09-01 · Provenance →