Dubai International (DXB) marked International Day of Families with a live caricature activation across its terminals, offering travellers personalised sketches by Dubai-based artists as part of Dubai Airports’ wider focus on family-centred guest experiences during the UAE’s Year of Family.
The activation transformed everyday travel moments into interactive experiences, with guests invited to pause during their journeys and receive hand-drawn caricatures from local artists stationed across DXB’s terminals.
Families travelling through the airport gathered around the artists to watch illustrations come to life before continuing onward, adding a personalised and informal element to the passenger journey at one of the world’s busiest international airports.
Focus on family-centred experiences
Dubai Airports said the initiative was designed to acknowledge the role travel plays in bringing people together while reinforcing DXB’s position as a global gateway connecting families, friends, and communities across international markets.
The airport operator added that the activation aligns with its broader guest experience strategy, which increasingly focuses on creating thoughtful and human-centred interactions across airport touchpoints rather than limiting engagement to operational efficiency alone.
The initiative also coincides with the UAE’s Year of Family, placing added emphasis on community connection and shared experiences across public-facing institutions and infrastructure.
DXB continues passenger growth
Dubai Airports operates both Dubai International Airport and Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International.
According to the operator, DXB welcomed a record 95.2 million guests in 2025, marking the busiest year in the airport’s history and the highest annual international passenger traffic recorded globally by any airport.
Meanwhile, expansion plans for Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International continue to progress following the announcement of a US$ 35 bn investment programme in May 2024. The long-term development aims to increase annual passenger handling capacity to 260 mn passengers and cargo volumes to 12 mn tonnes over time.
Dubai Airports stated that DWC’s future infrastructure strategy includes five runways, expanded intermodal connectivity, and new-generation airport design intended to support Dubai’s long-term aviation growth ambitions over the next 50 years.
Rahul Bhadana is a digital editor at TravTalk Middle East with experience spanning multiple content niches, with a strong focus on travel trade journalism and digital publishing. A graduate of Delhi University, his work covers editorial writing, content strategy and platform-led storytelling, supporting TravTalk’s digital growth and industry engagement. A technology enthusiast, he enjoys films, poetry and exploring new ideas across media and culture.
