how many airports in dubai

Dubai has two main international airports: Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC).

Quick Scoop: How many airports in Dubai?

If you’re asking “how many airports in Dubai?” in a travel or ticket‑booking sense, the practical answer is:

• 2 international civilian airports in Dubai city itself :
  • Dubai International Airport (DXB) – the big, busy one most passengers use.

* Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC), also called Dubai World Central – newer, farther from the city center, currently handling a mix of cargo and some passenger flights but planned to grow massively.

Some detailed guides also mention:

• A military airport in Dubai (Al Minhad/Al Minhadi) , which is not used by tourists but is technically another airfield in the emirate.

• Nearby international airports in other emirates – especially Sharjah (SHJ) and Abu Dhabi (AUH) – which are often marketed in flight searches as alternatives “near Dubai” and used by many Dubai‑bound travelers.

So depending on what you mean:

• “Airports in Dubai for travelers”: 2 (DXB and DWC).

• “Airfields in and around Dubai including military/neighboring emirates”: more, but most people will still fly into DXB or DWC.

Simple table for clarity

[3][5][9][1] [10][5][1][3] [1] [9][7][1] [7][9]

Airport	Code	Location	Type	Commonly counted as “in Dubai”?
Dubai International Airport	DXB	Dubai city	International, major passenger hub	Yes – main Dubai airport
Al Maktoum International (Dubai World Central)	DWC	Dubai (south, Dubai South area)	International, growing cargo and passenger operations	Yes – second Dubai airport
Al Minhad / Al Minhadi	–	Dubai emirate	Military	Usually no for tourists; not used for commercial flights
Sharjah International	SHJ	Emirate of Sharjah (near Dubai)	International	Nearby option often used by Dubai visitors
Abu Dhabi International	AUH	Emirate of Abu Dhabi	International	Also used as a Dubai‑area gateway by some travelers

For flight booking, hotel shuttles, and metro access, assume you’ll be using DXB unless your ticket clearly says DWC.

TL;DR:

• Short, practical answer: Dubai has 2 international airports (DXB and DWC).

• There is also a military airbase in the emirate and nearby international airports in other emirates that serve many Dubai‑bound passengers.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.