The Q4-2024 numbers are receiving a further boost as more direct passengers make plans for a Dubai trip during the final weeks of the year.DXB’s current record in full-year passenger numbers is 89.1 million, set in 2018.

“This is a period known for high direct traffic, driven by expats travelling home for the festive season and visitors arriving to enjoy the UAE’s packed winter calendar,” said a DXB statement.

Major events and attractions – from the DP World Tour Championship, Emirates Dubai 7s, festive markets and New Year’s Eve celebrations draw millions of guests from overseas. Plus, the cruise season is in full swing, with many passengers set to pass through Dubai’s ports as cruise operators capitalise on the city’s infrastructure and superior air and sea connectivity.
Strong Q3-2024 numbers
Meanwhile, Dubai International Airport saw 68.6 million passengers file through its terminals in the first nine months of 2024.

Momentum from the year’s first-half continued into Q3, during which the world’s busiest airport hub handled 23.7 million passengers, marking a 6.3% growth compared to 2023, according to Dubai Airports.

Flight operations also saw a surge, with over 111,300 flights handled in Q3, bringing the year-to-date total to 327,700, a 6.4% increase.
Direct traffic soars
According to Dubai Airports’ CEO, Paul Griffiths, the hub is pulling in more point-to-point traffic ‘ever before’. “What’s particularly noteworthy is that DXB is seeing more direct traffic than ever before — a shift from the long-standing trend where transfer traffic dominated,” he said.

“This reflects Dubai’s evolution into not just a premier tourist destination, but also a globally attractive place to live, work and do business, further underscored by the city’s booming real estate market and its rising appeal as a destination for top talent.”

Around 60% of Q4-2024 traffic is forecast to be direct, compared to 50% in Q3 and 55%for the full year.Airport authorities are focused on continuing to deliver an exceptional experience in the final quarter, ‘buoyed by Dubai’s vibrant winter calendar and renowned attractions’, said Griffiths.

Where will the passengers come from?
Growth is expected from Western Europe, with an increase of 237,000 seats (compared to Q3-24), and the CIS, adding 301,000 seats. Home-based carriers and new airlines, including ITA, Condor, Hainan and Druk Air support this growth.Additionally, Dubai World Central—Al Maktoum International (DWC) – welcomed budget carriers Transavia and Eurowings, further enhancing connectivity from the UAE to European destinations.

During Q3-24, DXB saw the highest passenger numbers from India, at 8.9 million, followed by Saudi Arabia with 5.6 million, which was a 15.2% increase. The UK contributed 4.6 million passengers, a 4.7% growth year-on-year. The total into and from Pakistan were 3.4 million travellers.

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The Malayali entrepreneur’s retail chain is entering the stock market for the first time. One of the largest hypermarket chains in the UAE and GCC region, Lulu employs 50,000 people. ADQ, an Abu Dhabi investment company, acquired 20% of Lulu’s shares in 2020. This deal was for 100 crore dollars. It is decided to pay dividends to the shareholders every 6 months.

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ABU DHABI:

The Kerala Pavilion at Annual Investment Meeting (AIM), was inaugurated by Secretary Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Rajesh Kumar Singh, in the presence of Indian Ambassador to UAE Sunjay Sudhir, Lulu group chairman MA Yusuff Ali, and KS Srinivas, principal secretary-tourism, Government of Kerala on May 8.

 
The Annual Investment Meeting, organised by the AIM Foundation, kicked off on May 8, 2023, at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, UAE. Under the theme of “The Investment Paradigm Shift: Future Investment Opportunities to Foster Sustainable Economic Growth, Diversity, and Prosperity,” the event is aimed at empowering the global economy by promoting effective investment strategies and facilitating opportunities for economic productivity and expansion.

 
The Kerala Pavilion showcased investment opportunities in Kerala as an investment destination, and the Kerala Startup Mission brought eight startups for B2B and seed funding activities. Sinrorobotics Pvt Ltd, Orditt, Cocoroots Organic Private Limited, Febno Technologies Private Limited, Wheelhouse Infosystems Pvt Ltd, GO EC Autotech Pvt Ltd, Ecodew Pure Water Solutions, and Primus Corporate Strategists LLP participated in the panel of Kerala Startup Mission in Abu Dhabi, seeking investment opportunities.

The Government of Kerala is a Gold Sponsor at the Annual Investment Meeting.Secretary DPIIT had earlier held bilateral meetings with the senior leadership of Mubadala and Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), who showed confidence in continuous investment in India in traditional and digital infrastructure.

Guidance Tamil Nadu has been nominated for the Investment Promotion Award, at AIM 2023, the results of which will be announced later in the day. Guidance Tamil Nadu is the investment promotion agency of the Government of Tamil Nadu. It is constituted to reach out to prospective investors and make them invest in the state of Tamil Nadu.

 
AIM Global 2023 addressed new trends in the current global digital transformation experienced by developing and developed economies. It included sessions and workshops discussing vital topics such as Future Cities, the business sector’s ability to keep abreast of fast changes, and the importance of innovation in achieving growth against strong competitive backgrounds. Decision-makers, investors, experts, and academic figures from all over the world attended the Annual Investment Meeting, discussing the shift in the global investment landscape in a global environment characterised by geopolitical and economic challenges and its impact on the attraction of foreign direct investments.

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