Dubai International Airport recorded a new exceptional achievement, achieving the best quarterly performance in its history this year. This achievement confirms Dubai International Airport’s position as a leading global aviation hub, and its pivotal role in driving Dubai’s economic growth and enhancing its position as a global tourist destination.
Dubai International Airport witnessed a significant increase in the number of passengers during the first quarter of this year, as the number of passengers reached 23 million passengers, an increase of 8.4% compared to the same period last year. This growth is attributed to the attractiveness of Dubai International Airport in key markets and its contribution to enhancing Dubai’s position as an international destination for tourism and trade. January recorded the highest passenger movement, with the number of passengers reaching 7.9 million.
Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, said that the strong growth process witnessed by Dubai Airport continued during the first quarter of this year, with part of this growth attributed to the expansion of the global network of destinations to include 256 destinations through 90 international airlines, including the two national carriers. Emirates Airlines and Flydubai.
He added: “With Dubai assuming a leading global position in attracting talent, companies and tourists from all over the world, our focus remains focused on maintaining this growth momentum and enhancing the comprehensive airport experience for each of our guests by working closely with our partners and stakeholders.”
Griffiths added: “With the strong indicators that we are also witnessing in the second quarter of the year, and our optimistic expectations for the rest of the year, the number of guests this year is expected to reach 91 million guests, surpassing the previous record for annual passenger traffic of 89.1 million passengers, which Recorded in 2018.”
- Sector contribution
The aviation sector is one of the most important tributaries of the economy in Dubai, as Dubai International Airport plays a pivotal role in driving the economic and tourism growth of the emirate. Dubai recorded a 3.3% increase in GDP, worth approximately 307.9 billion dirhams. Partly driven by strong aviation sector contribution.
Dubai International Airport enjoys an exceptional position as a global aviation hub, connecting the emirate to more than 256 destinations in 102 countries. This extensive network of flights enables a huge flow of passengers and goods to Dubai, strengthening its position as a hub for business, trade and tourism.
| India 3.1 million passengers |
Saudi Arabia 2.0 million passengers |
United kingdom 1.5 million passengers |
Pakistan 1.1 million passengers |
United State 836 thousand passengers |
Russia 725 thousand passengers |
Germany 728 thousand passengers |
Dubai International Airport continues to strengthen its position as a global aviation hub by expanding its network of destinations and meeting the growing demand for travel to and from key markets around the world.
India maintained its position in first place in terms of number of passengers with a total of 3.1 million passengers, followed by Saudi Arabia in second place with a total of 2.0 million passengers, and the United Kingdom with a total of 1.5 million passengers. The list of most prominent destinations also included Pakistan (1.1 million), the United States (836 thousand), Russia (725 thousand), and Germany (728 thousand).
As for the cities, London maintained its position as a major destination in terms of the number of passengers with a total of 961,000 passengers, followed by Riyadh with a total of 795,000 passengers, Jeddah with a total of 669,000 passengers, and Mumbai with a total of 637,000 passengers.
Total air traffic in the first quarter of this year reached 109,238, an annual increase of 8.3%. The seat occupancy rate reached 79.1% in the first quarter, with an average of 217 passengers per flight, a slight change from the 220 per aircraft recorded during the same period in 2023.
The baggage handling system at Dubai International Airport was able to handle 26.8 million bags in the first quarter of this year, once again confirming Dubai International Airport’s operational excellence and commitment to providing seamless travel experiences for passengers.