Heading to the airport anytime over the next week? Brace yourselves…

Airport officials are warning that over a million passengers are expected to pass through Dubai International Airport next weekend, with the start of the school holidays.

The busy period is expected to begin on June 28 – so if you’re travelling on Thursday, you’ll need to have your wits about you.

“We are about to face the busiest days of the year here at Dubai International,” said Eugene Barry, executive vice president commercial at Dubai Airports.

“It is predicted that June 28 is going to be the first of our busy days during the summer holiday. The weekend of July 5 to 8 is anticipated to be a busier time as the majority of local schools are breaking up for the summer. We expect during those few days to welcome over 1.1m travellers.”

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DXB says preparations for the upcoming peak have been ongoing for the past couple of weeks.

“For those travelling in the next few days, we would advise passengers to get to the airport early and encourage them to use the latest technologies we recently added, like the Smart Gates, to expedite their journey,” said Essa Al Shamsi, vice president for terminal operations at Dubai Airports.

Fun fact: Did you know DXB has three baggage systems with a combined length of 175 kilometres, that can handle up to 25,000 bags an hour?

Here are some more tips for a smooth Dubai departure…

– Be sure to check which airport/terminal you are departing from before leaving home. Check dubaiairports.ae for flight status.

– Arrive early at the airport. It is best to leave a minimum of three hours for check-in and passport control. Take into consideration daily rush hours and available routes in calculating your commuting time to the airport.

– Use your Emirates ID to breeze through the Smart Gates.

– Make sure your suitcase complies with Dubai Airports’ baggage regulations. Remember, only bags that have a flat surface will be checked in.

– Make sure all liquids, aerosols and gels (LAGs) in your check-in baggage are in a clear re-sealable plastic bag. Each item should not be more than 100ml, and the total content of all items should not be more than one litre.

– Take off all metal items – like watches, belts, etc, before you go through the security screening.

– Check in online (when possible) or use the self-service check-in kiosks in the departures hall.

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