Dubai Airports and Etihad ESCO Launch Final Phase of Major Lighting Retrofit

In partnership with Etihad ESCO, a subsidiary of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), Dubai Airports is upgrading lighting across both Dubai International (DXB) and Dubai World Central (DWC).

This phase includes replacing over 180,000 conventional lighting fixtures with high-efficiency alternatives.
Concourse A at DXB is the single largest area being retrofitted.

The initiative follows a first phase that upgraded 150,000 lights, making this one of the largest airport lighting retrofits in the region. According to Built Environment ME, the total energy savings are expected to exceed 47 million kWh annually, enough to power over 4,300 homes.

The retrofit is projected to deliver cost savings of more than AED 20 million each year. AGBI notes that this aligns with Dubai’s broader environmental goals.

Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, stated that this project highlights the airport’s commitment to sustainability-driven operational decisions. The lighting retrofit also supports the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 and the UAE’s Net Zero 2050 goals. Installation is expected to finish by the second half of 2027.