Dubai's Emirates Terminal 3 comes of age

The festivities are part of a three-day birthday celebration that will involve thousands of passengers and aviation staff.

Dubai International Emirates Terminal 3 first opened its doors on October 14, 2008 for the exclusive use of Emirates Airline. The airport was opened in four phases to ensure a smooth operational transition and the convenience and comfort of customers. Some 8,000 volunteers were involved in operational trials conducted to test processes and equipment. It was a strategy that resulted in a glitch-free opening, garnered international praise and led to several awards.

HH Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, and Chairman of Dubai Airports, said, "The growth and development of Dubai city and its airport are closely linked. Emirates Terminal 3 has played a central role in supporting Dubai's economic progress, and has bolstered the city's image as an emerging global aviation hub. It is something the aviation community, the city and the Emirate can be proud of."

"Emirates Terminal 3's unmitigated success has given it iconic status in the industry. It has clearly become a symbol of Dubai's aviation success story," added Paul Griffiths, CEO, Dubai Airports. "The next phase of its development, Concourse 3, will build on that reputation by offering the world's first dedicated A380 airside facility when it is completed at the end of 2012."

During its first year of operations, Emirates Terminal 3 has handled more than 96,000 flight departures and arrivals and over 16.1 million passengers, 1.32 million of who have enjoyed the variety of facilities available through Marhaba services and Emirates First and Business Class Lounges. More than 18.7 million pieces of luggage have been processed by the baggage system, which is one of the longest and deepest of underground systems in the world.

Not only is Emirates Terminal 3 an operational marvel, it is a visual feast. Emirates Terminal 3 was designed by world-renowned French architect Paul Andreu. Its elegantly curved steel and glass façade and its bright interiors have set new standards in airport design. Terminal 3 was also designed for optimum travelling comfort. The underground terminal is located beneath the taxiways and aprons effectively bringing it closer to the boarding gates. The terminal is the world's largest yet its unique design coupled with state-of-the-art people transportation solutions such as travelators effectively shorten the distance from kerbside to the aircraft. The recent opening of the Emirates Terminal 3 Metro station also makes it more easily accessible from the city.

"Terminal 3 has become an intrinsic part of Emirates' operations. As an international airline connecting passengers from six continents, a significant part of the travel experience we offer our customers is the journey through our hub in Dubai. Emirates Terminal 3's opening provided much-needed space for our growing operations. It also meant that we could expand and enhance our Airport Services and lounge product. The feedback from our customers on Emirates Terminal 3 has been tremendously positive," said Mohammed Mattar, Emirates' Divisional Senior Vice President, Airport Services.

"We are proud to contribute to the ongoing success of Emirates Terminal 3 which is not only our home and hub, but also a testament to Dubai's progressive approach to development and hospitality. We are working in close collaboration with Dubai Airports and look forward to making our customers' journey through Dubai even more enjoyable in the future," he added.

The retail experience at the terminal is also garnering international recognition. Dubai Duty Free, which operates 8,000 square metres of retail space in Terminal 3, has noted that 55% of its total business is derived from T3 passengers. The operation, which reported sales of $1.1bn in 2008 making it the largest single duty free operation in the world, is expecting to end this year with a 4% increase in sales.

"We are delighted with the duty free operation in Terminal 3 as it has added a whole new dimension to our retail offer at Dubai International. The feedback from our customers has been very positive over the past year and we will continue to look at ways to enhance the overall retail experience," said Colm McLoughlin, Managing Director, Dubai Duty Free.