Abu Dhabi, UAE–The UAE airports have received nearly 31.8 million passengers in the first quarter of 2023, a rise of 11.5 million passengers from the same period in 2022, when about 20.4 million passengers were recorded, according to the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE).
Indicating that the civil aviation sector has managed to restore pre-pandemic passenger traffic levels, the apex bank mentioned that the size of cumulative investments in the UAE’s civil aviation sector exceeded US$273 billion, while the size of investments in the development and expansion of airports hit $23.14 billion to accommodate over 300 million passengers annually.
As of 2022, the aviation sector in the UAE contributes, directly or indirectly, to about 14% of GDP, compared to 2-3% in major emerging markets and advanced economies.
In 2022, Dubai’s airport welcomed 66 million passengers, more than double the previous year.
The main business hub of the oil-rich United Arab Emirates is home to one of the world’s busiest airports.
The airport “welcomed a total of 66,069,981 passengers during 2022”, representing year-on-year growth of 127 percent, according to a statement.
In 2021, around 29.1 million passengers passed through Dubai, and the authorities had expected 57 million visitors for the year 2022.
The UAE has maintained a neutral stance towards Russia’s war in Ukraine, which is nearing its one-year anniversary.
The Gulf nation has emerged as a top destination for rich Russian emigres fleeing the impact of Western sanctions.
Russians were the top buyers of Dubai properties last year, according to brokerage Betterhomes, bolstering the city’s record real estate transactions last year.
Dubai’s airport was briefly closed to commercial flights from March to July 2020 due to Covid-19. It was one of the first travel hubs to reopen after the pandemic.
In 2020, it received only 25.9 million passengers, down from the 86 million the previous year.