Dubai International (DXB) has welcomed a record 44.9 million visitors during the first six months of this year, marking an 8% year-on-year increase in guests, having established its position as a globally preferred gateway, a report said.

Boosted by strong connectivity with key international markets, Dubai attracted 9.31 million international visitors in H1 2024, reflecting its burgeoning appeal as a global hub for talent, enterprises, and investors, Emirates News Agency, WAM, said.

These figures, recently released by Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism, tie in closely with the growth of Dubai's GDP, which reached AED115 billion in Q1 2024, up 3.2% from the previous year.

Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, said: "The record-breaking performance in the first half of this year highlights our strategic importance as a global aviation hub.

"Strong demand from key source markets such as India and the gradual but certain resurgence of markets, such as China, have been instrumental in our success.

“We have a very optimistic outlook for the remainder of the year, and we are on track to break records with 91.8 million annual guests forecasted for 2024."

The size and significance of DXB's established and growing markets, including South Asia, Western Europe, the GCC, and East Asia, have played a crucial role in the airport's continued success.

In the first half of 2024, India remains DXB's top destination country with 6.1 million passengers, while traffic from China exceeded 1 million passengers, representing 80% year-on-year growth and a 90% recovery compared to 2019 levels.

DXB's top destination countries after 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 significant 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 is connected to 269 destinations across 106 countries, served by 101 international airlines, reinforcing Dubai's position as a leading global business and logistics hub.

The total number of flight movements reached 216,000, a 7.2% increase compared to the first six months of last year. The busiest month was January with 7.9 million guests.

DXB efficiently managed 39.7 million bags in the first half of the year, a 6.7% year-on-year increase, marking the highest-ever baggage volume handled in H1 2024.

Additionally, 92% of all arriving baggage was delivered to guests terminating at DXB within 45 minutes of the aircraft arriving on stand.

The average number of guests per aircraft movement was 213, and the load factor remained steady at 77% compared to H1 2023. Direct traffic accounted for 56% of the total, witnessing a slight increase, while transfer traffic comprised 44%.

Meanwhile, during the second quarter of 2024, the airport saw 21.8 million guests, an increase of 7.5% compared to the same period last year and total movements were recorded at 107,000.

The real-time monitoring system used at DXB helps the airport anticipate and prevent queues from building up across touchpoints, ensuring a smoother and more efficient journey for all guests.

During H1, 98% of guests experienced less than 10 minutes of wait times at departure passport control, and the same percentage waited less than 15 minutes at arrival passport control; 95% of guests at departure security screening waited less than three minutes. – TradeArabia News Service