Paul Griffiths | Chief Executive Officer
Dubai Airports Company

Paul Griffiths serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Airports, overseeing the strategic direction and operational excellence of Dubai International (DXB) – renowned as the world's busiest airport for international passengers – and Dubai World Central (DWC).  Assuming the role of Dubai Airports' inaugural CEO in October 2007, Paul has been a driving force behind a series of successive milestones in the organisation's history. Notably, he played a crucial role in the seamless launch of Terminal 3 at DXB on October 14, one year after joining. On June 27, 2010, he successfully inaugurated Dubai's second airport, DWC. Further contributing to Dubai's aviation legacy, Paul spearheaded the opening of Concourse A on January 2, 2013, the world's first purpose-built A380 facility, followed by Concourse D on February 24, 2016. Under his guidance, the passenger terminal at DWC commenced operations on October 27, 2013.  Marking a historic moment on December 20, 2018, Paul, alongside Dubai Airports’ Chairman, His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, welcomed DXB’s billionth passenger.  In the face of the unprecedented challenges posed by the Covid-19 crisis, Paul's adept leadership enabled DXB to emerge as a global leader in the recovery of air travel, with the hub surpassing pre-pandemic traffic levels in 2023. Correctly anticipating and preparing for explosive growth, he strategically navigated the crisis, positioning DXB ahead of projections. Throughout 2022-23, DXB, under Paul's vision, not only accommodated double-digit growth in passenger numbers but also achieved significant enhancements in the airport experience, ensuring a seamless journey for tens of millions of guests from the kerb to the boarding gates.  Before assuming his role in Dubai, Paul served as the Managing Director of London’s Gatwick Airport. Prior to his tenure at BAA, an airport operator, in 2004, he spent 14 years with the Virgin Group. During this period, he worked closely with Sir Richard Branson as a Board Director of the Virgin Travel Group, overseeing the commercial activities of both Virgin Atlantic Airways and Virgin Trains.