Dubai Airport Welcomes 41.6 Million Passengers, Surpassing Pre-Pandemic Levels of Traffic

Dubai International Airport has exceeded its pre-pandemic levels of passenger traffic, as 41.6 million individuals utilized the transit hub within the initial half-year of this calendar.

The primary entry point of Dubai observed a substantial 49 percent upswing in passenger traffic during the first six months of this year in contrast to the corresponding timeframe in 2022. This rise was marginally higher than the traffic experienced in 2019, according to a statement by Dubai Airports on Tuesday.

India emerged as the leading destination country in terms of traffic, with a total of six million passengers during this period. Following closely were Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom, Pakistan, and the United States. Notably, London emerged as the foremost city destination, accommodating 1.7 million passengers, trailed by Mumbai and Riyadh, both welcoming 1.2 million passengers each.

Dubai Airports' CEO, Paul Griffiths, emphasized the commitment to ensuring a positive experience for every traveler passing through the airport. He projected an anticipated total of 85 million passengers served by year-end, representing a mere 1.6 percent decline from the annual traffic in 2019. Griffiths mentioned robust demand during July and foresees a notably busy remainder of the year, especially with the confluence of the ongoing seasonal peak and the reopening of schools in August.

Despite the global challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Dubai reinitiated tourism in mid-2020, standing out as one of the few accessible destinations at that time. The city's recovery has been robust since the resumption of international travel, welcoming more than 14 million international tourists in 2022—a nearly twofold increase from the preceding year, according to the Department of Economy and Tourism.

Furthermore, the emirate has witnessed a surge in its real estate market due to Russian investors seeking refuge from the conflict in Ukraine. Dubai International Airport, having held the title of the world's busiest international airport for the past decade, serves an extensive network of 257 destinations in 104 countries, facilitated by 91 international airlines.

Source: Aljazeera.com