New concourse at Dubai airport opens

After two years of construction, Concourse D at Dubai airport has opened.

Dubai International Airport is the world's busiest airport for international passenger traffic and the 3rd busiest airport in the world for passenger traffic. Concourse D, which is accessed from Terminal 1 via a new APM (Automated people-movement system), is the last major project at Dubai Airports US$7.8 billion ‘Strategic Plan for 2020’ which is due to increase annual capacity at the airport from 75 million to 90 million passengers per annum.

Designed around a central two level international departure lounge, the emphasis in Concourse D is to create a more efficient and intuitive customer experience with short walking distances to all facilities. Concourse D is different to the existing layout of the airport's other facilities, featuring open check-in areas so that passengers can roam around the airport right up until boarding. The layout aims to reduce the distance passengers have to walk from the entrance to the gate, passing through shopping and restaurant areas on the way. It's a change from the linear structures of the other concourses, which can entail walking long stretches at a time.

The new Concourse features a significant number of food and beverage outlets including 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.

More than 70 international airlines at present using Terminal 1's Concourse C will be moved over to the new concourse.

Chapman Taylor was responsible for the retail masterplanning and design as part of a new approach to passenger experience at the new Concourse.

Chapman Taylor is the world’s leading architectural practices for aviation retail and transportation hub environments with an ever expanding portfolio of transportation projects that includes many high profile schemes across the aviation industry globally. Other current aviation projects include the retail reconfiguration of Heathrow Terminal 3 International Departure Lounge (IDL), new 'refresh and relax' concepts in Heathrow Terminal 5, improvements to the passenger experience at Prague airport and a retail masterplan and concourse design at the new Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai.