Dubai International Airport (DXB) has set a new record by welcoming 44.9 million visitors in the first half of this year. This significant increase in passenger numbers highlights DXB’s vital role in bolstering Dubai’s economy. With an 8% growth compared to last year, DXB has solidified its position as the world’s preferred gateway. This growth is attributed to the airport’s strong connectivity to major international markets and its key role in Dubai’s economic development.
In the first half of 2024, 9.31 million foreign visitors traveled to Dubai, underscoring the city’s growing popularity as a global hub for talent, businesses, and investors. These figures, released by Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism, align with the city’s GDP growth. Dubai’s GDP increased by 3.2% in the first quarter of 2024, reaching AED 115 billion. It has also increased property prices in Dubai.
Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, commented, “The outstanding performance in the first half of this year underscores our strategic importance as a global aviation hub. Dubai is leading in attracting talent, businesses, and tourists from around the world, and we are proud to be the gateway to this city. Strong demand from key markets like India, along with the gradual yet definite recovery of markets like China, have played a crucial role in our success. We have a very positive outlook for the rest of the year, and we are on track to break records with a projected 91.8 million annual passengers for 2024.”
DXB’s continued success is largely influenced by the size and significance of its established and expanding markets, including East Asia, Western Europe, South Asia, and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). India remains the most popular destination for DXB passengers in the first half of 2024, with 6.1 million travelers. Traffic from China reached 1 million passengers, marking an 80% increase compared to last year and a 90% recovery from 2019 levels.
Following India, the top three destination countries for DXB passengers were the UK (2.9 million visitors), Pakistan (2.3 million visitors), and Saudi Arabia (3.7 million visitors). Germany (1.3 million visitors), Russia (1.3 million), and the United States (1.7 million visitors) are among the other key markets. London (1.8 million visitors), Riyadh (1.6 million), and Mumbai (1.2 million) were the top three city destinations.
Dubai’s status as a major international trade and logistics hub is further strengthened by the fact that DXB is served by 101 international airlines and is connected to 269 destinations in 106 countries.
A total of 216,000 flights were operated, marking a 7.2% increase compared to the first half of last year. January was the busiest month, with 7.9 million visitors. DXB handled a record 39.7 million bags in the first half of the year, a 6.7% increase from last year. Impressively, 92% of all arriving bags were delivered to passengers within 45 minutes of the aircraft docking, demonstrating the airport’s commitment to operational excellence.
On average, there were 213 passengers per flight, with a stable load factor of 77%, compared to the first half of 2023. Transit traffic accounted for 44% of the total, while direct traffic made up 56%, showing a slight increase. Meanwhile, the airport saw 21.8 million visitors in the second quarter of 2024, a 7.5% increase from the same period last year, with a total of 107,000 flights recorded.
Dubai Airport, in its ongoing efforts to enhance visitor experience, will introduce innovations in the coming months, focusing on operational excellence and seamless travel experiences. These include an advanced queue management system, a new fragrance in Al Majlis to create a welcoming atmosphere for VIP facilities, and color-coded parking for easier navigation.
DXB’s real-time monitoring system helps the airport anticipate and prevent bottlenecks in various areas, making travel more efficient and smoother for all visitors. In the first half of the year, 98% of visitors waited less than 10 minutes at outbound passport control and less than 15 minutes at inbound passport control. Additionally, 95% of visitors passing through security checks during departure waited less than three minutes.
Source: https://www.propertynews.ae
