Dubai is the most prepared in the region for a rapid recovery of air and travel traffic

Experts and managers in the aviation, travel and tourism sectors said that air traffic in the region will witness a rapid recovery during the coming period, pointing out that Dubai will be at the heart of this recovery as the largest international aviation hub in the world and a global center linking the East and the West through a wide network of international destinations.

They told Emirates Today that Dubai’s well-established global position in the aviation sector, along with its advanced infrastructure, strategic location, and high ability to manage operations efficiently, make it the most benefiting and prepared of any recovery or rapid return of travel traffic in the region.

They added that the emirate possesses all the elements that qualify it to quickly regain momentum and continue to consolidate its role as a global gateway for trade, tourism and business, at a time when the eyes of airlines, investors and the global travel sector are turning to the next stage with great confidence.

Quick return

In detail, the chief analyst at OAG, the international organization that provides data for airports and airlines, John Grant, said that it is very likely that the aviation and travel sector in Dubai will witness a rapid return to its normal levels during the current circumstances in the region, compared to what happened during the “Corona” pandemic, explaining that the nature of the current crisis is radically different. While the pandemic was characterized by a gradual and selective closure of global markets, most countries in the world today remain outside the scope of direct influence by geopolitical tensions and continue their activities. Commercial and operational normally.

He stressed that this reality means that the recovery, once the crisis ends, will be rapid, not only in Dubai, but will extend to other regional centers.

As for the strengths that distinguish Dubai International Airport as the largest air transport hub in the world, he pointed to key elements, including the geographical location, the long-term strategic vision, in addition to the ability to manage crises, as well as the strategic positioning that enhances the sector’s flexibility.

Different circumstances

For his part, Executive Director of Dubai World Travel Company, Badr Ahli, said that global markets are currently witnessing conditions that are completely different from the Corona crisis, stressing that the expected recovery of the sector will be much faster.

He added that the current conditions indicate a rapid recovery and active tourism movement during the coming period, with the return of air traffic to its usual levels and the complete opening of the skies in the region, indicating that this will directly reflect on the movement of tourism, trade, and many related economic sectors.

Ahly continued: “We expect the market to witness a significant increase in flight reservations and hotel accommodation, and a rapid return of business events and conferences, in addition to leisure tourism,” pointing out that Dubai, as a global center, will benefit more from the momentum that the region may witness.

He said: “Today we see that the markets are more prepared, which enhances the chances of a rapid recovery and a tangible economic recovery,” indicating that demand will remain strong for the UAE market due to its role and position on the global level.

Powerful model

In turn, the General Manager of Al-Awadhi Travel Company, Amin Al-Awadhi, said that the rapid recovery of air and travel traffic in Dubai reflects the strength of the economic model that the emirate has developed over decades, which is based on the integration between advanced infrastructure, economic openness, and the ability to anticipate global changes and deal with them with high efficiency.

He added that Dubai has once again proven its ability to maintain its position as one of the most important aviation and travel centers in the world, not only through the volume of air traffic, but through its pivotal role in linking different markets, economies and continents.

He pointed out that the aviation sector in the emirate represents a major engine for economic growth, due to the direct and indirect activity it generates in the tourism, trade, hospitality, logistics, retail and real estate sectors.

Al-Awadhi stressed that the economic impact of the aviation sector goes beyond the borders of airports and airlines, to include an integrated economic system that benefits from the flows of passengers, shipping, trade and investments, explaining that every increase in the number of travelers reflects positively on hotel occupancy rates, the movement of tourist spending, and the activity of business centers, exhibitions and conferences, as well as supporting the demand for various services.

He pointed out that current indicators confirm that Dubai has all the necessary ingredients to continue growth in the coming years, benefiting from its strategic location, its continued investments in infrastructure, and its global reputation as a safe and attractive destination for business and tourism.

Trust factors

In the same context, the regional director of the Hyatt Hotel Group in Dubai, the general manager of the Grand Hyatt Hotel, Fathi Khojaly, said that the aviation and travel sector in the UAE is likely to achieve a rapid recovery, driven by strong confidence factors in the market and continued demand for the UAE as a prominent global market.

Khojali added that the UAE will witness a faster recovery, pointing out that most reservations were not cancelled, but were rescheduled and postponed to later months, which indicates the strength and durability of the underlying demand for travel to the country.

He stated that “many groups, events and conferences were only postponed, and some of them were rescheduled for a later period,” considering that this is “clear evidence of the great confidence of the global business community in Dubai and the UAE.”

Khojali pointed out that these positive indicators are linked to the UAE’s position as an integrated global destination, as it combines tourism, finance and business, in addition to being a major center for hosting international conferences and events.

He stressed that the strong infrastructure that the country enjoys, in addition to its strategic location and the diversification of its economy, enhances its ability to quickly restore activity, and consolidates its position as one of the most prominent global destinations in the travel and aviation sectors. He also stressed that Dubai benefits from its advanced infrastructure and global aviation network that connects it to hundreds of destinations, which enhances the speed of tourism movement recovery.

Efficiency and preparedness

In addition, the CEO of Al Rayes Travel Company – Al Rayes Group, Mohammed Jassim Al Rayes, said, “Dubai continued to provide its usual model of efficiency and readiness, as government services, commercial operations, and economic activities continued at a normal pace, supported by close coordination between government agencies and the private sector,” noting that this system did not pass without attracting the attention of investors around the world, but rather strengthened their conviction that Dubai remains the most prepared destination to receive investments in various circumstances.

He added that the emirate does not just provide a market or investment opportunity, but rather offers an integrated system that includes world-class infrastructure, airports and ports among the most efficient in the world, an advanced legislative environment, an advanced financial system, and specialized free zones, in addition to an exceptional quality of life that makes it a preferred destination for individuals and companies alike.

Al-Rayes explained: “Dubai’s strength lies in that it is a city that provides all the ingredients for success in one place,” pointing out that with the continued implementation of giant projects and expansion plans in the sectors of aviation, logistics services, the digital economy, real estate, tourism and industry, Dubai seems more prepared than ever for the next stage.

He stated that the eyes of investors around the world are closely watching Dubai, not only because of its economic successes, but also because of its continued ability to create opportunities even in the most challenging periods.

Dubai Airports expects to restore 85% of travel traffic before the end of 2026

Dubai Airports CEO, Paul Griffiths, confirmed that the long-term strategy of Dubai International Airport was not affected by recent developments in the region, expressing his optimism about the possibility of accelerating the pace of recovery in the air travel sector during the coming period.

Griffiths said, in statements to Dubai Eye Radio, that current estimates indicate that passenger traffic through Dubai International Airport will reach between 80 and 85% of its target levels before the end of this year.

Griffiths added that Dubai Airports continues to constantly update its operational and predictive scenarios, explaining that the most optimistic scenario has become more realistic in light of the resumption of air services and the return of connectivity between global markets.

He revealed that the network of destinations linked to Dubai has now reached about 205 cities around the world, with 35 additional cities expected to join in the coming months.

He said that with the current positive indicators continuing, it is possible that we will once again reach the historic goal of serving 100 million passengers through Dubai International Airport by the end of 2027.

Regarding the air freight sector, Griffiths confirmed that the performance has been strong over the past period, explaining that freight volumes have stabilized at about 75% of normal capacity despite the challenges witnessed by global supply chains.