The CEO of Dubai Airports told AFP on Monday that the aviation hub in Dubai has “every chance” of breaking its record for passenger traffic this year after surpassing pre-pandemic levels in 2023.
Despite the Gaza conflict, Dubai International, the busiest airport in the world for foreign travel for almost ten years, saw 87 million visits in 2023, surpassing the 86.4 million recorded in 2019.
Chief Executive Paul Griffiths identified two important factors: a swift recovery in airport staffing levels following the pandemic and an early recovery in Dubai, the business and financial hub of the United Arab Emirates.
“We were ready sooner. We were back to 100 percent capacity much sooner, and as a result, our traffic has rebounded far more quickly,” he said, adding that Dubai’s record of 89.1 million passengers, set in 2018, could be surpassed this year.
“I think there’s every chance of going above it. It could be a new record,” Griffiths said. “I’ve had a peek at the January numbers and let’s say it gives me some cause for optimism.”
Dubai Airports’ official forecast for this year stands at 88.8 million passengers, just shy of the record, despite Israel’s war against Hamas which began in October.
“We’ve demonstrated the absolute resilience of the network that we operate,” said Griffiths, adding that Dubai’s airport serves 104 countries via 102 airlines.
“If there is a bit of a dip in demand from one destination or point of origin, then that tends to be compensated by the rest of the network filling the space,” he added.
According to Griffiths, there was a 20.4 percent increase in cargo traffic in the most recent quarter, possibly as a result of Huthi rebel attacks on ships traveling through the Red Sea.
He would only state that the airport’s security protocols were “well developed” and would not go into further detail.
In January 2022, the Huthis launched missiles and drones at vital UAE infrastructure, killing three oil workers and igniting an airport fire.
According to Griffiths, the increase in travel to and from the rapidly developing Saudi Arabia had been “phenomenal,” with Riyadh currently ranking second in terms of traffic in Dubai, behind London.
“If you look at the growth of travel and tourism across the world, we are only scratching the surface in this region,” he said.
“The region is waking up to the fact that travel and tourism is a fantastic driver of growth for the economy, and also it isn’t really competitive, it’s collaborative, and it’s complimentary.
“If you’ve got more cities that people want to visit, the more cities and options there are, the more people will come to the region.”
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