Dubai International, the world's number one hub for worldwide traveler traffic, enhanced its capability from 75 million to 90 million today with the opening of Concourse D, the outcome of a US$ 1.2 billion investment to boost service and boost capability for the more than 70 worldwide airlines that will now call it home.

"We continue to invest in the development of top-flight infrastructure to enhance service levels for our worldwide airline companies and their clients while providing the capacity had to satisfy growing need," stated HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Airports; President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority; Chairman and CEO of Emirates Group. "Concourse D has been designed with the customer at its heart. Shorter walking ranges, more comfy seating areas, more choice in lounges and a world-class retail and F&B offering make certain to impress and delight our passengers and our airline partners.".

The first flight to be welcomed at the center was today's British Airways flight 105. This historical first operation followed months of intensive screening and an effective functional trial involving 2,000 members of the public earlier this month. The trial volunteers played the function of travelers getting to, departing from and transiting through Concourse D, screening way-finding signs, food and retail outlets and the flow of traveler traffic within the brand-new building. Two airlines will run from Concourse D on the first day (British Airways, Royal Jordanian) with the rest phasing in operations over the next several weeks.

"Aside from its numerous customer-centric features, Concourse D continues our legacy of providing prompt capability," stated Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports. "Today we also announce our 2016 forecast which predicts 85 million travelers will visit Dubai International this year. With the addition of Concourse D, Dubai International is getting both larger and much better.".

The concourse is linked to the freshly refurbished Terminal 1 by a dedicated airport train that can transport 300 passengers per trip. Designed around a central atrium, Concourse D offers brief walks to open gates, which will allow visitors to board straight from the waiting area, giving them more freedom and time to delight in the full selection of interesting food and beverage outlets.

A number of world prominent brands will be presented to Dubai and the region for the very first time - consisting of a casual dining concept The Kitchen which will offer travelers creations from the renowned star chef Wolfgang Puck. Dubai Airports will likewise introduce the very first Pret a Manger in a Middle Eastern airport. Other firsts for DXB include Butlers Chocolate Caf and Camden Food Company which will bring healthy yet delicious dining options utilizing organic and natural products. For those who take pleasure in a little theatre with their food, YO! Sushi will be a popular addition to the airport, while the CNN News Caf will be a favourite for news addicts who want to stay connected to world affairs over coffee. Other brand-new outlets include Lebanese preferred Sharwarmanji and Taqado Mexican Kitchen, both popular regional examples of street food, in addition to a second Masale by Taste of India outlet but on a larger scale. Concourse D will likewise have developed tourist favourites such as Giraffe - which will open its 2nd outlet at Dubai International - Starbucks, KFC, Krispy Kreme, McDonald's, Brioche Doree, The Noodle House, Cavier House & Prunier, Draft House sports bar, and Costa Coffee.

The brand-new concourse will offer plenty of comfortable seating spaces and wellbeing ideas such as Be Relax and the ever-popular 'SnoozeCubes' which supply a practical method to rest between flights. It will also include an overall of nine lounges topped 6,926 m2, including five airline company lounges, a brand-new Al Majlis lounge, two Dubai International Hotel lounges and a Marhaba VIP lounge.

JC Decaux will exclusively operate Concourse D's advertising concession, presenting Dubai International's largest arrangement of digital and other marketing structures to date. In addition, the existing successful partnership with JTI will see the provision of three extra cigarette smoking lounges in Concourse D.
Dubai Duty Free has a total of 175 vendor installations in Concourse D spread over an area of 7,000 m2, bringing the operation's overall retail area at DXB to 33,000 m2. Fashion covers a total of 1,000 m2 divided into 2 zones, perfumes and cosmetics cover a total location of 1,500 m2 while liquor and food occupies nearly 1,000 m2.

On the apron, Concourse D provides 21 contact stands, of which four will be able to accommodate Airbus A380 or Boeing 747 airplane, and 11 remote stands with a design capability for 18 million passengers.