World’s Busiest International Airport Will Now Charge a Departure Fee

Dubai’s crown prince has approved a new airport fee for all passengers leaving this long-haul air travel hub to pay for improvements and expansions.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum announced the new fees on Wednesday.

He says every passenger leaving Dubai, including most transiting through the Mideast city-state, will pay a 35-dirham ($9.50) service fee for flights leaving after June 30 that have been booked starting March 1.

His statement says the fee will go toward expansion projects like Dubai International Airport’s new Concourse D, the expansion of the airport’s Terminal 2 and the renovation of Terminal 1.

Dubai International Airport, the world’s busiest for international travel, is the home of Emirates airline. The city also is expanding into Al Maktoum International Airport at Dubai World Central.