96 million passengers in “Dubai International” during 2025

His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman of the Dubai Airports Foundation, Supreme President of the CEO of Emirates Airlines and the group, confirmed that Dubai airports continue to register a strong performance, driven by increasing air traffic and numbers of passengers, especially with the distinguished performance of air carriers such as «Emirates Airlines» and “Fly Dubai”, in addition to more than 100 international airlines operating at Dubai International Airport.

His Highness expected, in statements to «Emirates Today», that the number of passengers at Dubai Airport will reach 96 million passengers this year, with the continued achievement of the standard results that strengthened the position of Dubai a global flight center.

His Highness pointed to the strong performance of the Dubai economy, the pace of growth in Dubai and the UAE in light of the wise leadership of the state, and the tireless work that is being implemented throughout the day and the hour, which establishes Dubai’s position as a first destination for investment and tourism in various sectors.

His Highness said that Dubai has become an attractive destination for all segments of investors and tourists, pointing out that many entrepreneurs and merchants start their new business or expand their existing activities in the emirate, reflecting the growing economic vitality of Dubai, and its ability to attract opportunities and support business.

On the sidelines of the activities of the Arab Travel Market Exhibition 2025, His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum expressed his optimism about the performance of the aviation sector during the years 2025 and 2026, despite the continued global challenges, stressing the importance of preparation and proactive dealing with the changes.

His Highness said: “We are always lucky to be in Dubai, and we are witnessing continuous growth,” noting that geopolitical challenges are continuing in the world, and that airlines, including Emirates Airlines, deal with them flexibly, including fluctuations in currency and fuel prices.

His Highness added that it is too early to assess the impact of the subject of customs duties in the air transport industry, pointing out that the evaluation will be more clear with the emergence of the results in the future.

His Highness revealed that the Emirates Group will announce its results for the fiscal year 2024-2025 on the eighth of next May, expecting that the group’s performance in general will be registered with two Khanat, and the results would be better than those that were registered in the previous fiscal year.

On strengthening the carrier fleet, His Highness explained that Emirates Airlines began receiving new Airbus A350 aircraft, noting that receiving new aircraft will contribute to raising the volume of the fleet for the coming period.

His Highness added that “Emirates Airlines” has received four new Airbus 350 aircraft so far, while the number is expected to reach 12 or 15 aircraft before the end of this year.

His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum stressed that «Emirates Airlines» continues to invest in its fleet in the context of the carrier’s commitment to providing travel experiences and services that are not comparable to its customers.

His Highness pointed out that the carrier increases the number of new aircraft that are supplied in the excellent tourist degree, explaining that the capacity of the excellent tourist class will reach two million seats this year, to rise to about four million seats in 2026.

His Highness stated that the markets of the United States, Australia, European destinations, etc. will be one of the most prominent destinations that are experiencing an expansion in those planes, indicating that the demand for the excellent tourist class is increasing significantly.

Regarding the delivery of the Boeing 777 X, His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum expected that it will start during the second half of 2026, pointing out that the acceleration of deliveries is in the interest of enhancing the carrier services and raising its operational efficiency.

Regarding the trend to request the purchase of new aircraft for Emirates Airlines and “Flydubai” during the activities of the Dubai Air Exhibition in November, His Highness pointed to the possibility of announcing requests for new planes, and he pointed out that discussions with manufacturers are ongoing, and any agreements will be revealed as soon as final formulas are reached during the exhibition.

On the problem of delay in the delivery schedules, for Emirates Airlines and “Flydubai”, His Highness said that it is expected to receive “flydubai” this year about 12 new aircraft, which will have a positive reflection on the carrier and its expansion plan.

Regarding the development project of Al Maktoum International Airport, His Highness stressed that work continues to achieve tangible progress in the vital project, in order to enhance its future expansion capabilities, and Dubai as a prominent global center in the air transport sector.

His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Board of Directors of “Fly Dubai”, welcomed the restart of the flights between the UAE and Syria, stressing that this step will strengthen the movement of travel between the two countries.

His Highness said that work is underway to complete the operational, technical and insurance equipment, expressing the hope that the flights will start to Syria soon this year.

His Highness added that the opening of the Syrian airspace to the air carriers will be reflected in the decline in operational costs for companies.

His Highness said that the shift to the use of sustainable fuel has become an international demand, indicating that the greatest challenge is the lack of this fuel and its high cost, calling for the necessity of governments and institutions to support these efforts.