Dubai International’s Dhs3.35 billion Concourse D is close to opening, and Dubai Airports is inviting members of the public to come test it out.

Dubai International airport, the world’s busiest for international traffic, is about to get bigger: a new area set to open at Terminal 1 soon will service over 70 airlines and increase the airport’s capacity to 90 million passengers annually. Concourse D will add 30 airline counters, 11 lounges, 4,261 square metres of new food and beverage outlets and 8,484 of retail space (duty free shopping!) to the already huge airport.

It will also feature The Kitchen, a casual fine-dining concept by Wolfgang Puck; the Middle East’s first Pret a Manger and a Camden Food Company.

*MORE: Your questions about the e-gate card answered*

Pret a Manger is coming to Dubai! You just have to travel to eat one of their baguettes. Photo: Facebook/PretAManger.

As part of the getting-ready-to-open procedure, Dubai Airports has invited members of the public to come down on February 6 and volunteer as ‘passengers’ to test out the readiness of the new facility on Saturday February 6. (An aviation geek’s dream day out?)

On the day they’re hoping around 2,500 volunteers – of all ages – will play as passengers: pretending to arrive, depart, transit, shop, eat and more. This is all to test that the new concourse will run smoothly when open. Keen to be there on the day? Head here to register.

OTHER THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THE NEW AREA

– The concourse will feature open gates that allow travellers to board directly from the waiting area (which means you can shop for longer).

– There will be a CNN news cafe in the new concourse (so you can keep up to date while you transit).

– There will be ‘SnoozeCubes’ where you can take a nap.

– Other food outlets there will include Yo! Sushi, CNN News Café, Sharwarmanji and Taqado Mexican Kitchen, Taste of India, Giraffe, Starbucks, KFC, Krispy Kreme, McDonald’s, Brioche Doree, The Noodle House, Cavier House & Prunier and Costa Coffee.

Concourse D to increase #Dubai International Airport’s capacity to 90 million passengers pic.twitter.com/gijDqEp6uu — Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) January 12, 2016

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