The scale came about due ambitious facility provisions and Emirates operating a fleet consisting of only wide-body jets, the biggest of which is the Airbus A380.
The space necessary to accommodate aviation's largest passenger jet of the moment is significantly greater than previous aircraft in use, and as is common around the world, airports like Dubai are finding it necessary to build specific gates to accommodate the A380.
DXB's official website has a useful map and preview resource, and is a wise investment in time to get acquainted with this super-sized terminal complex.
Facilities here are a shopper's dream (or nightmare; it depends who is picking up the bill!) The Dubai Airports company describes it as follows:
“Established in 1983 by the Government of Dubai, Dubai Duty Free was the first of its kind in the Middle East. To date, Dubai Duty Free, winner of over 70 international awards since 1983, continues to be a global trendsetter.”
What could be perceived as undesirable here though is the continual announcements by an automated computer system for flight information. It can get quite tedious when there are several hours until a departure yet the constant reminders and final calls for other passenger's boarding gates intersperse the shopping experience.
Contemplating the size of this building and its connections, it is understandable to feel overwhelmed if the goal is just to get from one point to another. And this is a valid criticism, for all the acclaim which accompanies the world's largest building, the disadvantage is the veritable trek to get anywhere. Sure, there are 82 moving walkways to assist, but it still takes ages!
Further Information
- World Architecture News - The architectural perspective of Dubai Airport's Terminal 3.
- Air Transport World - Explains the lengths required to accommodate the Airbus A380 at Dubai International Airport.
Technorati tags; Dubai International, airport information, DXB.
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