Propelled by strong growth throughout the first three quarters of the year and anticipation of an exceptional surge in guest numbers in the final quarter,Dubai Airports is forecasting annual passenger traffic at Dubai International (DXB) to reach 86.8 million – surpassing 2019 traffic.

DXB commenced the second half of 2023 with its growth story continuing unabated, with average monthly traffic reaching 7.6 million, tracking pre-pandemic levels throughout the third quarter. The world’s largest hub recorded 22.9 million passengers in Q3 – the highest quarterly traffic since 2019, taking the total year-to-date traffic for the first nine months of the year to 64.5 million passengers, up 39.3% compared to the same period in 2022 and 1% above 2019. 

“We’re thrilled but not entirely surprised that DXB is all set to surpass the pre-pandemic milestone well ahead of our initial projections by almost a year. Our outlook for the remainder of this year and the next remains optimistic. Teaming up with our strategic partners, we’re ready for the challenge to continue to exceed guest satisfaction amidst the continuous surge in traffic,” said Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports.

He added: “Our team embarked on a remarkable journey, navigating fresh challenges during the recovery period and swiftly revitalising the business. Instead of settling, we’re dedicated to exploring inventive solutions, reimagining traditional concepts, integrating state of the art technology, and addressing the mammoth challenge of sustainability. Events like the Dubai Airshow present the ideal platform to recognise accomplishments and foster future growth. This edition is clearly playing a critical role in forging the path for the industry’s future.”

Future Outlook

Dubai Airports is expecting record-breaking numbers to continue in Q4 and 2024. To accommodate growth and to achieve the company’s ambition of revolutionising the guest journey at DXB, Dubai Airports is undertaking a strategic project to expand infrastructure capacity while enhancing operational efficiency. With a current capacity of 100 million passengers annually at DXB, the deployment of innovative technology, expansion and refurbishment of existing infrastructures and more efficient use of its space and resources is expected to propel the airport’s capacity to 120 million.

As Dubai tops the list of cities with the highest spending by international visitors with a total earning of $29.4bn^[1], and the Emirate at the forefront of deploying the latest technologies, Dubai Airports has continued to work closely with its stakeholders to provide guests the experience they expect from Dubai.

Top destinations

With 8.9 million passengers in the first nine months of the year, India was DXB’s top country destination in terms of traffic volume, followed by Saudi Arabia with 4.8 million passengers, and the UK (4.4 million passengers). Other country destinations of note include Pakistan with 3.1 million passengers, the US (2.7 million) and Russia (1.8 million). The top cities by traffic were London (2.7 million passengers) and Riyadh (1.9 million), closely followed by Mumbai (1.8 million) and Jeddah (1.7 million passengers).

Performance

DXB’s baggage handling system processed a total of 57.5 million bags in 2023 with a success rate of 99.8% – a rate of 2.5 mishandled bags per 1,000 passengers – no mean feat for the world’s biggest hub for international traffic. In terms of baggage delivery on arrival, 91% of all baggage was delivered within 45 minutes to the guests. The baggage volume in 2023 represents 106.07% of the 2019 baggage volume at DXB.

The average waiting time at passport control queues was less than 11 minutes for 96.4% of the arriving passengers and 95.1% of passengers queued for less than six minutes at departure passport control. The average queue times at security-check on departures was less than four minutes for 98.4% of total passengers.

Cargo

Cargo continued to gain momentum in the third quarter registering a surge of 12.3% year on year, to reach 446,400 tonnes. The strong performance this year has helped level out a double-digit contraction in cargo recorded at the end of last year. The hub recorded 1.3 million tonnes of cargo in the first nine months of the year, registering a minor decline of under 1%.

Flights

Flight movements in Q3 surged by 5.1% in the third quarter to reach 106,000. DXB handled 308,000 in total flight movements between January and September, up 25.2% year-on year.

[1] Cities Economic Impact Report by the World Travel and Tourism Council

Miral, Abu Dhabi’s prominent creator of immersive destinations and experiences, has revealed plans for a significant expansion of Yas Waterworld on Yas Island. The expansion, covering 16,900 square meters, is scheduled for completion in 2025 and will feature an additional 3.3 kilometers of slide sections. Expected to increase visitor capacity by 20%, the expansion will introduce 18 new rides and attractions, bringing the total to over 60 rides and experiences. Among the noteworthy features are the UAE’s highest slide and the GCC’s first amusement ride integrated within a waterslide complex.

This expansion aligns with Miral’s vision to establish Yas Island as a leading global destination for entertainment and leisure. Mohamed Abdalla Al Zaabi, Group CEO at Miral, expressed pride in contributing to Abu Dhabi’s ecosystem and economic diversification while enhancing its global appeal as a tourism hub.

Once open, the water park will include unique features such as a swim-up bar, a high-thrill boat ride, racing and tube slides, family raft rides, and a dueling master blaster. The expansion also caters to mini thrill-seekers by providing smaller-scaled versions of Yas Waterworld’s most iconic rides.

Yas Waterworld is part of Yas Island’s diverse offerings, including Ferrari World Yas Island, Warner Bros. World, CLYMB Abu Dhabi, Qasr Al Watan, Etihad Arena, the world’s first Warner Bros. themed hotel, and the recently opened SeaWorld Yas Island.

UAE President, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, visited the Dubai Airshow 2023 at DWC, touring exhibition spaces and pavilions to observe exhibits from various local and international companies.

Engaging in discussions with exhibitors, he was briefed on aviation sector advancements, including innovative technologies and sustainable aviation fuel utilization. 

Sheikh Mohamed expressed well wishes for the event’s success, emphasizing the UAE’s crucial role in the global aviation industry. He highlighted the airshow as a platform for industry leaders to discuss innovative solutions, underlining aviation’s vital role in supporting UAE’s industrial growth. 

Sheikh Mohamed was accompanied by other dignitaries during his tour.

Ereen Attia, an Egyptian architect and mother of three, won a 24-karat gold bar in Abu Dhabi’s Big Ticket raffle on her first attempt after purchasing a ticket on October 4.

The raffle, known for its grand prizes, conducts a daily e-draw, and this month, ticket purchasers for the December 3 live draw have a chance to win a gold bar each day. 

Other recent winners include Bappa Dey, a Bangladeshi expat, Muhammed Anwar KP from Kerala, India, and Naveen Vengali Raveendran from Kerala, now residing in Dubai, all with plans for their respective prizes.

Dubai Airports is planning to replace Dubai International (DXB) with a larger airport due to growing passenger demand, as revealed by CEO Paul Griffiths during the Dubai Airshow 2023. DXB’s annual passenger traffic is projected to reach 86.8 million, surpassing 2019 figures.

Currently optimized for 100 million passengers annually, DXB’s capacity could expand to 120 million with innovative technologies. Griffiths stated that a new airport will be necessary once the 120 million capacity is reached, likely during the 2030s. The new airport’s design elements will be worked on in the coming months, with a modular approach for easier expansion.

DXB recorded 22.9 million passengers in Q3, marking a 39.3% increase from 2022. The tourism sector in Dubai also exceeded records, attracting 12.45 million international visitors in the first nine months of 2023. Griffiths emphasized a shift in the business model for airports, making them more intimate and eliminating legacy processes.

Cargo saw a 12.3% YoY surge in Q3, reaching 446,400 tonnes.

UAE employees failing to subscribe to the unemployment insurance scheme by the October 1 deadline face an AED 400 fine. An additional AED 200 fine applies to those who subscribe but fail to pay premiums for over three months. The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (Mohre) warns of “administrative measures” if fines go unpaid, impacting new work permits. Fines can be deducted from salaries or end-of-service gratuity.

The Mohre app, website, or business service centers allow employees to check fines, pay in installments, and appeal within 15 working days. Over 6.6 million people have subscribed to the scheme.

The ultra-low-cost job security scheme compensates Emiratis and expatriates for up to three months if they lose their jobs. Private sector employees receiving work permits post-October 1 must subscribe within four months or face an AED 400 fine.

Certain groups are exempt, including investors, domestic workers, temporary employees, juveniles under the age of 18, citizens eligible for retirement, and retirees receiving a pension who have joined a new employer.

The scheme is divided into two categories based on salary. For those with a basic salary of AED 16,000 or below, the insurance premium is set at AED 5 per month (AED 60 annually), with a maximum monthly compensation of AED 10,000. The second category, covering those with a basic salary exceeding AED 16,000, has an insurance premium of AED 10 per month (AED 120 annually), with a capped monthly compensation of AED 20,000.

Employees can claim insurance compensation if subscribed for at least 12 consecutive months. However, they cannot claim compensation if they leave the country or secure a new job. The compensation is paid for a maximum of three months from the date of unemployment, provided the employee was not terminated for disciplinary reasons. The compensation amount is calculated at the rate of 60% of the average basic salary in the six months prior to unemployment.

The UAE has strongly condemned and expressed its strong denunciation of the Israeli bombing of the vicinity of the Jordanian field hospital, and the inhumane attacks launched by Israel on hospitals in the Gaza Strip. The UAE affirmed its categorical rejection of targeting hospitals, civilian organizations, and facilities in the Strip.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) stressed that the immediate priority is to preserve the lives of civilians and provide full protection of organizations and civilian facilities, and ensure the immediate, safe, sustainable, and unhindered delivery of humanitarian, relief, and medical aid to the Palestinians.

The Ministry reaffirmed the need for an immediate ceasefire to prevent further loss of life, reiterating the importance of protecting civilians and civilian institutions, according to international law including international treaties, and the need to ensure that they are not targeted during conflict.

The UAE called on the international community to intensify efforts to avoid further fuelling the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and to advance all efforts to achieve a comprehensive and just peace, while preventing the region from being drawn into new levels of violence, tension, and instability.

The COP28 Green Zone Day passes are now available for booking online. Interested individuals, including climate innovators and those interested in climate action, can secure their free Green Zone Day Pass from December 3 to 12 at COP28 UAE in Expo City Dubai. Tickets are accessible at http://cop28.com/tickets, with each pass being valid for the chosen day only and allowing a single scan for entry. To ensure optimal engagement, a detailed site map is provided on the website.

Visitors are encouraged to utilize the Dubai Metro for convenient and sustainable transportation to COP28’s Green and Blue Zones. The Green Zone, managed by the COP28 Presidency, is designed for enhanced interaction and engagement with the Blue Zone. It is open to delegates, the public and private sectors, NGOs, and the general public, fostering inclusivity.

Notably, Green Zone tickets are unavailable for the first three days of COP28 (November 30 to December 2), with access during this period restricted to invitation-only. The Green Zone promises to host a multitude of climate-inspired exhibits, art installations, film screenings, and over 300 talks and discussions on climate change and sustainability. Opening hours are from 10:00 to 18:00, with select events extending into the evening from 18:00 to 22:00.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is expected to experience cloudy skies with rain and thunderstorms in the evening, particularly in the eastern, northern, and coastal areas. The National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) has issued a 4-day rain alert starting from November 15.

The weather forecast predicts a mix of partly cloudy to cloudy conditions, with convective clouds leading to scattered rainfall. Temperatures are expected to decline during this period, reaching a high of 32°C in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, with lows of 22°C.

Winds may vary from light to moderate, occasionally becoming fresh to strong, and blowing dust and sand may affect horizontal visibility. Sea conditions in the Arabian Gulf are expected to be moderate to occasionally rough, while the Oman Sea may experience slight to moderate waves.

The highest temperature recorded on Wednesday was 35.7°C in Al Ruwais (Al Dhafra Region) at 14:00 UAE Local time.