Dubai's new Al Maktoum International airport, which began cargo operations two years ago, expects to open its long-delayed passenger terminal by the end of 2013, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed al-Maktoum said.

Sheikh Ahmed is President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman of Dubai Airports.

“We will look to open passenger terminal by end of next year,” he told reporters. “Hopefully before the next Air Show in Dubai, we will open passenger terminal.”

The Al Maktoum airport, part of the Dubai World Central logistics complex, was originally due to open for passenger traffic in March last year.

The massive new airport is designed to cater to 160 million passengers as Dubai attempts to leverage its central location between continents as a hub for airlines.

Meanwhile, Dubai Airports has conducted the first operational trial involving members of the public, to test the readiness of the newly built Concourse A – the world’s first purpose-built A380 facility at Dubai International’s Terminal 3.

The major trial follows a comprehensive series of preliminary exercises that were carried out at the facility in recent weeks with the participation of employees of the airport and its partners.

Concourse A is part of the Terminal 3 complex which will increase Dubai International’s annual passenger capacity from 60 million to 75 million when it opens next year.