Airports / United Arab Emirates / DWC
Al Maktoum International Airport.
Dubai(Jebel Ali), United Arab Emirates · 114 ft elevation. A private-aviation gateway on the Bravo register.
OMDW
IATA DWC
0
Operators based
114
Elevation ft
Field elevation
Nearest alternate
Field standing
14 nm
To the nearest alternate
Al Minhad Air Base (NHD), 6 fields within 50 nm.
Overview
Al Maktoum International Airport, listed as OMDW / DWC, is a large commercial airport in Dubai(Jebel Ali), United Arab Emirates. The airport sits 114 feet above sea level. Alongside scheduled airline service, the airport handles a steady flow of private and charter traffic.
No charter operator is headquartered on the field, but operators routinely position aircraft into DWC for departures. When weather or ramp space demands it, nearby options are Al Minhad Air Base (NHD, 14 nm), Dubai International Airport (DXB, 24 nm), and Sharjah International Airport (SHJ, 32 nm). With 2 runways, the longest 14,764-foot paved runway, DWC can typically accommodate aircraft as large as VIP airliners.
Planning a trip? The Dubai, United Arab Emirates destination guide covers routes, aircraft options, and what to expect on the ground. In directories and search listings it also appears under Dubai World Central. Compare rated operators or run a route through the cost estimator to gauge pricing from Dubai(Jebel Ali).
Run an FBO at OMDW? Become the preferred FBO
Field capability
ICAO
OMDW
IATA
DWC
FAA / Local
OMDW
Elevation
114 ft
Coordinates
24.8962° N · 55.1624° E
Airspace
G · GolfClass G, GolfUncontrolled field, no tower. Pilots self-announce and sequence themselves on the common traffic advisory frequency.Source: FAA NASR class airspace
Size
Large
Scheduled svc
Yes
Elevation vs United Arab Emirates fields
state range 14–869 ft
At 114 ft, DWC sits higher than 67% of the 12 United Arab Emirates fields on the register.
Runways & aircraft access
2 runways
longest 14,764 ft
- 12/3014,764 ft × 197 ftAsphaltLighted
- 13/316,030 ft × 98 ftAsphaltUnlit
Which aircraft can operate here
vs longest paved runway 14,764 ft
DWC's 14,764 ft paved runway typically supports charter aircraft up to VIP airliners.
- Turboprop3,000 ft
- Light Jet3,500 ft
- Midsize Jet4,500 ft
- Super-Midsize Jet5,000 ft
- Heavy Jet5,500 ft
- VIP Airliner6,000 ft
Class minimums are sea-level planning rules of thumb. A specific aircraft's balanced-field length varies with weight, temperature, and field elevation. Confirm performance with the operator.
Access & alternates
Closest alternate fields by great-circle distance, every listing links to its own field brief.
- 14nmNHDAl Minhad Air BaseDubai
- 24nmDXBDubai International AirportDubai
- 32nmSHJSharjah International AirportSharjah
- 39nmAUHZayed International AirportAbu Dhabi
- 45nmAE-0221Sas Al Nakheel Air BaseSas Al Nakheel
- 45nmAANAl Ain International AirportAl Ain
Destinations served
Location
Open the full mapOMDW · Al Maktoum International Airport · Dubai(Jebel Ali), United Arab Emirates
Flight times from here
Approximate nonstop block times from DWC on a typical midsize charter jet. Faster classes trim these; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.
| Destination | Distance | Block time |
|---|---|---|
| Anchorage (ANC) | 5,496 nm | 13h 11m |
| Boston (BED) | 5,794 nm | 13h 52m |
| New York (TEB) | 5,951 nm | 14h 14m |
| Washington DC (IAD) | 6,142 nm | 14h 41m |
| Chicago (ORD) | 6,299 nm | 15h 3m |
| Seattle (SEA) | 6,462 nm | 15h 26m |
| Nashville (BNA) | 6,553 nm | 15h 38m |
| Jackson Hole (JAC) | 6,621 nm | 15h 48m |
Common questions
- What size private jets can use DWC?
- Al Maktoum International Airport's longest paved runway is 14,764 ft, which typically supports charter aircraft up to VIP airliners. Lighter classes (turboprops, light and midsize jets) operate comfortably; confirm exact performance for a specific tail with the operator, since balanced-field length shifts with weight, temperature, and elevation.
- What is the longest runway at DWC?
- Al Maktoum International Airport has 2 runways; the longest measures 14,764 ft on a paved surface and is lit for night operations.
- What is the nearest major airport to DWC?
- The closest alternate is Al Minhad Air Base (NHD), about 14 nm away, followed by Dubai International Airport (DXB) at 24 nm. Operators often position aircraft between these fields depending on ramp space and availability.
- How long is a flight from DWC to major cities?
- Typical block times on a midsize jet: Anchorage about 13h 11m (5,496 nm), Boston about 13h 52m (5,794 nm), New York about 14h 14m (5,951 nm). Faster classes trim these times; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.