Dubai International Airport (DXB) has raised its passenger forecast for 2024 to a historic high of 91 million, aiming to surpass its previous record of 89.1 million passengers set in 2018. The revision, announced by airport officials on Tuesday, comes amid burgeoning growth in the aviation sector and a successful first quarter that saw unprecedented passenger traffic.
DXB’s optimistic revision from the initial 88 million passenger estimate is backed by strong performance in the early months of 2024 and expansion efforts by its major carriers, Emirates and flydubai. “The robust growth trajectory at DXB continued in the first quarter of the year, with the hub recording some truly impressive numbers,” said Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports.
The first quarter of 2024 marked the busiest in DXB’s history, with 23 million passengers passing through its terminals—an 8.4 percent increase compared to the same period last year. January alone saw 7.9 million guests, the highest monthly traffic recorded, underscoring DXB’s appeal to international travelers and its role in enhancing Dubai’s global standing as a center for tourism and business.
Griffiths added, “As Dubai emerges as a global leader for attracting talent, businesses, and tourists from across the globe, our focus remains on sustaining growth momentum and enhancing the overall airport experience for every guest passing through our terminals. With a strong start to Q2 and an optimistic outlook for the rest of the year, we have revised our forecast for the year to 91 million guests.”
The airport’s strategic location and robust network significantly contribute to Dubai’s economy, which saw a 3.3 percent real GDP increase to Dh307.9 billion. DXB serves as a crucial gateway to Dubai, bolstering its reputation as a global hub for business and logistics with connections to 256 destinations across 102 countries through 90 international carriers.
India continues to be DXB’s top destination country, with 3.1 million guests, followed by Saudi Arabia, the UK, and Pakistan. The most popular cities for travelers through DXB are London, Riyadh, and Jeddah, with significant traffic also from Mumbai.
In the first quarter, DXB managed 109,238 flight movements, reflecting an 8.3 percent year-on-year increase, and handled 26.8 million bags with high efficiency. These figures demonstrate DXB’s continued commitment to operational excellence and its capacity to handle the increasing passenger and cargo volumes effectively, setting the stage for a record-breaking year.
