Dubai Airports looks to a bright future

As we reflect on an amazing 2008, it is clear that the next few years will mark a historic and exciting period for Dubai, Dubai Airports and the aviation industry.

The Emirate’s economy remains on a fast track, despite the global economic turbulence that has battered advanced economies and emerging markets.

Dubai remains one of the world’s strongest growth engines thanks to the vision and inspired leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and ruler of Dubai. Dubai’s strategic location, world-class infrastructure and economic strength have elevated it into a centre of excellence in the areas of investment, trade and transportation, which makes the emirate so attractive that blue-chip companies and the most promising of start-ups would not want to invest anywhere else.

Dubai Airports is proud to have been the catalyst that has helped transform this wonderful city into a major force in world aviation.

According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region will have the largest aviation growth in the world starting 2008 through till 2011. The future is particularly bright for the sector in the Department of Civil Aviation Authority, which boasts a world class aviation infrastructure and mega projects that are already underway.

Defying a continuing downward trend in international travel worldwide, passenger traffic at Dubai International passed the 9.5 million mark in the first quarter of this year, registering an increase of two percent over the corresponding period in 2008. This makes Dubai International the only airport among the world’s top ten busiest airports, in terms of international passenger volumes, to show positive growth both in the last quarter of 2008 and the first quarter of 2009.

The airport handled a total of 9,529,550 passengers from January to March this year, as compared to 9,341,270 in the first quarter of 2008. January was the busiest month with 3.3 million passengers, a year-on-year increase of six percent.

Cargo also increased marginally during the first quarter. The total freight handled between January and March this year reached 425,172 tonnes as compared to 423,291 tonnes in the first quarter of 2008. March was the busiest month for cargo with over 159,301 tonnes, up nearly 3.5 percent over the corresponding period in 2008.

The collective annual capacity of airports in the region will reach 400 million passengers within the next few years, with Dubai constituting almost 50 percent of the total.

Dubai has been at the forefront of regional aviation growth, with huge investment in technology and infrastructure and has successfully positioned itself as a major aviation hub. It is also one of the centres in the Gulf that have diversified their resources and lessened economic dependence on oil reserves.

The aviation infrastructure build of the region will continue and I am confident that Dubai will be at the heart of it, leading the beginning of a new era in world aviation.