The refurbishment of Dubai International airport’s Terminal 1 is due to begin in the first quarter of this year.

Plans include improving the efficiency of the baggage screening process in the departure hall, the replacement of all check-in desks and the upgrade of baggage systems and modernisation of all public areas.

The arrivals hall will also be modernised and expanded to improve passenger flow through the airport. The revamp is expected to be completed by the end of 2014. Once complete, the terminal will be linked via a new elevated train system to concourse D currently under construction.

In mid-December, the UK’s Turner & Townsend won the contract to cost-manage the construction of concourse D. The local Alec is the management contractor for the new concourse, after winning the contract in February 2012. The concourse is being built to the west of the existing concourse 1 near the cargo terminal.

The refurbishment of Terminal 1 follows the announcement on 2 January that the phased opening of Dubai International’s new concourse A had begun. The concourse is at Terminal 3 and is the world’s first facility dedicated to A380 airplanes.

Dubai International’s annual passenger capacity will rise from 60 million to 75 million when concourse A is fully operational.