Navigating the Skies: Dubai’s International Airport Cargo Gateway Sets New Standards

Dubai International Airport Cargo Gateway was formerly referred to as Dubai Cargo Village. Presently, it is far beyond just being a cargo handling facility-it is actually the world’s gateway to trade and logistics. Strategically sited adjacent to Dubai International Airport in the Al Garhoud, UAE, the DCG has since blossomed into one of the world’s leading air cargo hubs, courtesy of the meteoric rise of Dubai as a business and transport hub. Operated by the Dubai Airports Company, this facility provides significant support for cementing Dubai’s position among the world’s leading centres of international trade, and future expansion is envisioned to increase its volume.

Dubai Cargo Village was built in 1991 with the capacity to handle 150,000 tonnes of cargo per year. It was to be a facility that would cope with the growth in air and sea freight while streamlining transhipment between Asia, Europe, and the Indian subcontinent. Spread over 300,000 square meters, this $75 million facility marked the beginning of a revolutionary journey in cargo handling worldwide. With cargo services in great demand as Dubai became the key re-export hub, the business flourished. DCG soon outgrew its original capacities within a few years. The rapid growth of Emirates Airlines, immense popularity of air cargo among the rest of the world, and its geographical benefits assured Dubai and its cargo mastery would require an expansion to be maintained.

The Dubai Department of Civil Aviation responded to the need with a $200 million expansion plan. The Mega Cargo Terminal, completed in 2008, marked a crucial milestone of the expansion. This showpiece terminal elevated DCG’s handling capacity to a staggering 2.7 million tonnes annually, making Dubai firmly one of the finest air cargo service operators in the world. High-tech facilities, bespoke storage, and express mail services and dedicated agent operation formed part of the terminal. Other facilities at Mega Cargo Terminal include offices, ground parking space for 17 aircraft, a central utility plant, and a mosque, among others. This facility puts an age-old seal on the importance of Dubai International Airport Cargo Gateway as a prime logistics centre, since an ever-increasing cargo shipment is passing through and contributes to the ever-growing economy of the UAE.

Strategically located side by side with Dubai International Airport, DCG provides easy cargo movement across the globe, bridging Asia, Africa, Europe, and more. DCG is also just 40 kilometres from the Al Maktoum International Airport Jebel Ali, soon to be opened, which will boast another cargo complex identical to DCG. The two-airport system will strengthen Dubai’s leadership in logistics as a super-hub of the global economy in the future. With 30 airlines operating offices in DCG and the major airport providing capacity to 124 airlines offering flights to more than 207 destinations, the facility offers unmatched connectivity. Direct cargo flights to major cities in Europe, Asia, and Africa ensure that Dubai remains a hub of choice for international freight.

Dubai International Airport Cargo Gateway is one of the few airports with new technology, and it boasts enormous handling capacity. The total annual handling capacity is 1.8 million tonnes, while the main cargo building alone handles 350,000 tonnes a year. Mega Cargo Terminal handles another 1.2 million tonnes. Temporary facilities and warehouses dedicated to Emirates SkyCargo operation handle 100,000 tonnes and 350,000 tonnes, respectively.

The ground area is 24,985 sqm for the main building and 8,300 sqm for the handling area. DCG is good for a storage capacity of 7,420 tonnes per day. Truck docks add to a total of as many as 56, facilitating import, export, and storage operations. The Free Trade Zone from which DCG operates cuts down the customs delay, besides making procedures simpler concerning international shipments. The premier ground handling company of Dnata Dubai is responsible for the operation of the air cargo terminals in Dubai so that the proceedings are smooth.

DCG bonded warehouses cover a vast capacity to store over 308 ULDs and pallets of various cargo types, ranging from perishable to general shipments. The sophisticated handling technology enhances the efficiency of operation in the facility further enhancing Dubai’s global trade profile.