RIYADH: Dubai’s main airport is on track to handle a record number of passengers this year after an 8% year-on-year increase in the first six months, operator Dubai Airports said on Wednesday.
Dubai International Airport (DXB), the world’s busiest airport for international traffic, welcomed 44.9 million passengers in the first half of the year, Dubai Airports said, noting strong demand from key markets such as India and the resurgence of China.
Traffic from China, hit hard by restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic, exceeded one million passengers, up 80% year-on-year and representing 90% of 2019 levels.
“We have a very optimistic outlook for the remainder of the year, and we are on track to break records with 91.8 million annual guests forecasted for 2024,” CEO Paul Griffiths said in a statement.
In May, Griffiths forecast 91 million passengers for the year, surpassing the airport’s previous annual record of 89.1 million in 2018.
Dubai is a major tourism and trade hub in the Middle East, attracting a record 17.15 million international overnight visitors in 2023. Thousands of foreigners have flocked to the city, attracted by massive infrastructure spending, generous income tax policies and an open-door approach to immigration.
In April, Dubai’s ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum approved a new passenger terminal at Al Maktoum International airport worth 128 billion dirhams ($35 billion).
Al Maktoum International Airport will be the largest in the world with a capacity of up to 260 million passengers, and five times the size of DXB, the Sheikh said at the time, adding all operations at Dubai airport would be transferred to Al Maktoum in the coming years.
DXB connects to 269 destinations across 106 countries. After India, Saudi Arabia, Britain, and Pakistan were the top three countries by passenger numbers, Dubai Airports said.
Pakistan among top countries as Dubai airport sees record 8% passenger number increase
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Pakistan among top countries as Dubai airport sees record 8% passenger number increase
- Dubai International Airport welcomed 44.9 million passengers in the first half of the year
- Dubai’s ruler approved a new terminal worth $35 billion with 260 million passenger capacity
Pakistan PM to attend World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Switzerland next month
- The WEF meeting, scheduled to be held in Davos on Jan. 19-23, will focus on global challenges, public-private dialogue and cooperation
- Government, business, civil society and academia leaders will engage in forward-looking discussions to address these issues, set priorities
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will travel to Switzerland next month to attend the 56th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF), Pakistani state media reported on Monday.
The WEF annual meeting, themed as ‘A Spirit of Dialogue,’ will be held from Jan. 19 to Jan. 23 in Davos, where world leaders from government, business, civil society and academia will engage in forward-looking discussions to address global issues and set priorities.
Prime Minister Sharif is expected to interact with global leaders and investors on economic challenges, regional and international issues and various opportunities for cooperation.
On Monday, Deputy PM Ishaq Dar presided over a meeting in Islamabad to oversee preparations for Sharif’s upcoming visit to Switzerland to attend the WEF meeting, the Radio Pakistan broadcaster reported.
“Dar instructed to maximize the engagements with the incoming Heads of States, Governments and senior leadership of economic, business and financial institutions,” the report read.
The WEF meeting program will be structured around key global challenges where public-private dialogue and cooperation, involving all stakeholders, is necessary for progress, according to the WEF website.
In addressing these challenges, growth, resilience and innovation will serve as cross-cutting imperatives, guiding how leaders engage with today’s complexity and pursue tomorrow’s opportunities.
Pakistani foreign ministry officials briefed the deputy PM about preparations for the WEF meeting, according to Radio Pakistan. The participants of Monday’s meeting in Islamabad discussed in detail the bilateral component and media engagements during the visit.
“He [Dar] further stressed that opportunities be explored to foster collaboration with private sector business entities,” the state broadcaster said.
