Dubai International Airport has achieved a remarkable turnaround in 2023. It has not only surpassed its pre-pandemic passenger traffic but also exceeded its yearly forecast by welcoming 86.9 million travellers. This marks a 31.7% surge in numbers compared to 2022. In 2019, passenger traffic was 86.4 million.
Experts predict this surge will grow to approximately 90 million travellers in 2024.
His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Rashid Al Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai, has stated that Dubai is constantly pushing the boundaries of passenger experience with its excellent and innovative airport services. He also mentioned that the city is striving to become one of the world’s top three cities for tourism and business over the next decade as part of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33. Dubai is rapidly growing as a global aviation hub and becoming the preferred gateway for international travellers worldwide.
It’s worth mentioning that Dubai has been awarded the Traveler’s Choice Destination for the third time in a row, making it the only region to achieve this feat.
The CEO of Dubai Airports, Paul Griffiths, was recently quoted by an international platform saying, “I am incredibly proud of everyone at Dubai International for their dedication and relentless pursuit of excellence, which has led us to break many of our records. The year 2023 was exceptional and is a testament to our unwavering commitment to innovation, efficiency, and delivering exemplary guest experiences. Moving forward, we are renewing our commitment to collectively enhance the airport experience for all our guests by launching a significant project to expand and refurbish DXB facilities to fortify our infrastructure for future growth.”
India topped the list of countries with the highest passenger traffic, with 11.9 million guests, followed by Saudi Arabia with 6.7 million, and the UK with 5.9 million. Other significant countries on the list included Pakistan, the US, Russia, and Germany. Dubai International Airport is already one of the world’s largest airports and will continue to grow. It offers all facilities under one roof. In February 2024, Dubai International Airport remained the world’s busiest international airport, with 4.7 million seats, according to the latest global travel data provider OAG report.
Dubai is expected to draw 89.5 million tourists in 2024, fueling the region’s growth and economy under its 2030 vision.