Dubai International (DXB) airport welcomed a record 44.9 million passengers in the first half of this year, showing an 8 per cent increase compared to the same period last year. Dubai attracted 9.31 million international visitors during H1 2024, underscoring its growing status as a global hub for talent, businesses, and investors. These statistics, recently disclosed by Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism, closely align with the growth of Dubai’s GDP, which hit Dh115 billion in Q1 2024, marking a 3.2 per cent rise from the previous year.
"The exceptional performance in the first half of this year underscores our strategic significance as a global aviation hub. Dubai leads among global cities in attracting talent, businesses, and tourists worldwide, and we are honored to serve as the gateway to the city, fostering growth and improving the airport experience for every visitor," stated Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports. Robust demand from key markets like India and the steady recovery of markets such as China have significantly contributed to our achievements. We are very optimistic about the rest of the year and are poised to set new records with an anticipated 91.8 million passengers in 2024," he further added.
The substantial and significant markets of DXB, including South Asia, Western Europe, the GCC, and East Asia, have been pivotal in the airport’s ongoing success. In the first half of 2024, India continued to be DXB’s leading destination country with 6.1 million passengers, while traffic from China surpassed 1 million passengers, indicating an 80 per cent year-on-year growth and a 90 per cent recovery relative to 2019 levels. DXB’s top destination countries following India are Saudi Arabia with 3.7 million guests, the United Kingdom with 2.9 million guests, and Pakistan with 2.3 million guests. Other notable markets include the United States (1.7 million guests), Russia (1.3 million), and Germany (1.3 million). The top three city destinations were London with 1.8 million guests, Riyadh (1.6 million), and Mumbai (1.2 million).
DXB connects to 269 destinations across 106 countries, serviced by 101 international airlines, reinforcing Dubai’s status as a premier global business and logistics hub. The total number of flight operations reached 216,000, a 7.2 per cent increase from the first half of last year. The busiest month was January with 7.9 million guests. DXB handled 39.7 million bags in the first half of the year, a 6.7 per cent year-on-year increase, marking the highest-ever baggage volume handled in the first half of the year. Notably, 92 per cent of all arriving baggage was delivered to guests at DXB within 45 minutes of the aircraft arriving. The average number of guests per aircraft movement was 213, and the load factor remained stable at 77 per cent compared to H1 2023. Direct traffic accounted for 56 per cent of the total, experiencing a slight increase, while transfer traffic comprised 44 per cent.
During the second quarter of 2024, the airport accommodated 21.8 million guests, a 7.5 per cent increase compared to the same period last year, with total movements recorded at 107,000.
