Dubai International Airport will
begin collecting a service charge of 35 United Arab Emirates dirham (about $9.50) on departing passengers on
July 1, the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum announced Wednesday.
Airlines will collect the fee
while issuing tickets, with proceeds to be used to improve infrastructure at
the airport and to increase capacity, according to the crown prince’s
statement. The airport recently opened a new Concourse D and is expanding Terminal 2 and renovating Terminal 1.
Last year, Dubai International processed 78 million passengers, making it the third-busiest airport in the
world.
The fee will also apply to Dubai’s
smaller Al Maktoum International Airport. Children under age 2 will be
exempt.