Exclusive: Dubai airport’s Concourse D opening date revealed

Dubai Airports is working towards an internal launch date of February 24 for Concourse D,Gulf Business can exclusively reveal.

Though large projects, by their nature, can present scheduling challenges, the operator of the world’s largest international airport is quietly confident it will meet this date following a successful public trial on February 6.

There have been clear signs that the terminal, which will be for international airlines and raise the airport’s overall capacity from 75 million to 90 million, will open soon.

Lufthansa recently sent out an invitation for the opening of its new senator and business class lounge on March 3.

In all there are nine lounges spread over 6,926sqm, including five airline lounges, a new Al Majlis lounge, two Dubai International Hotel lounges and a Marhaba VIP lounge.

Executive vice chairman of Dubai Duty Free Colm McLoughlin says its retail space covers 7,000sqm and is well positioned in terms of easy access to gates and F&B outlets. “The bright and spacious design will really add to the shopping experience and we have included a number of new brands including Burberry, Tiffany and Tory Birch to name a few,” he said.

F&B outlets include a casual dining concept from celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck, the first Pret a Manger in a Middle East airport, the region’s first Camden Food Company outlet and a CNN News Café, as well as a Caviar House & Prunier seafood bar.

Concourse C, previously for international carriers, will be refurbished this year and become exclusive to Emirates, thereby creating one seamless operation with Terminal 3.