In the late 1990s, the aviation sector received a significant share of government support.The Dubai Civil Aviation Department (DAC) announced an AED 30 billion expansion project to prepare the airport and prepare for the new millennium and race to the number one in the world. The first in the Middle East, in terms of the number of international passengers in 1997, and the sixth in the world, in terms of growth rates, according to the World Airports Council.

According to the data, the number of passengers at Dubai International Airport rose to 12.3 million in 2000, and more than 24 million in 2005, marking its historic achievement nearly nine years later in 2014, becoming the largest international air transport hub, removing the crown from its British counterpart. London Heathrow. ”

Land of opportunity

Adel Al Redha, Chief Operating Officer, Emirates Airline, said: “1960 marked a milestone in Dubai's march towards globalization with the opening of its own airport, which embodied the vision of the late Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum. Another development has paved the way for Dubai's global brightness as a land of opportunity and an attractive environment for business and investment. ”

He added that «25 years after the establishment of the airport, one of Dubai's ambitions was realized with the establishment of (Emirates), which began operations with two chartered aircraft, and launched on October 25, 1985 its first flight from Dubai International Airport to the city of Karachi, Pakistan, with 133 passengers» .

In 1987, Emirates took delivery of its first Airbus A310, followed by another A300-600ER, and in 1991 ordered seven Boeing 777s with an option to buy seven more. ».

Growth and excellence

Al Reza said that Emirates has taken a sustainable growth strategy to meet Dubai's global aspirations and support the tourism, travel and trade sectors, which constitute the main tributaries of the emirate's economy, while looking forward to provide greater development opportunities in other areas.

“In line with its strategy of excellence, Emirates became the first airline in 1992 to equip its seats in all classes with personal video screens and to open its own terminal at Dubai International Airport. Fast communications in all classes of travel, and the first airline to provide its fleet of Airbus aircraft fax service in the air ».

Fleet expansion

He noted that the airline won several awards and celebrated its 10th year with a fleet serving 34 destinations in the Middle East, Far East and Europe at the end of 1995, and continued to expand its fleet with the order of 16 aircraft (Airbus A330) worth $ 2 billion in 1997.

“In 2000, Emirates became the first airline to commit to an Airbus A380, when it ordered seven of its aircraft, and surprised the aviation industry at the Paris Air Show in 2003, the largest deal in the history of civil aviation. Buy 71 aircraft worth $ 19 billion ».

Changes and Services

Al Ridha added that Emirates has made unprecedented changes to the interior design of the aircraft, such as the shower spa and saloon, innovative seats that provide great privacy for business class passengers on the A380, as well as the first-class fully enclosed wings on the aircraft. The new Boeing 777.

He added that the company continued to focus on providing the most outstanding services to passengers in the context of global competition, and to strengthen the status of Dubai Airport as the most prominent airports in the world. In 2018, it announced plans to launch the world's first integrated biometric route, allowing customers to experience seamless travel through the airline's terminal at Dubai International Airport.With the latest biometrics technology, passengers will be able to check in, enter the airline's own lounges and board the aircraft. Use the latest facial and iris recognition technology as they travel around the airport.

Emirates is continuing its investments to support future growth, with more than 300 million passengers expected to fly on more than 300 aircraft in 2020 and connecting more of the world's major cities via Dubai airport. The wide range of services and services offered by the airline has made it a preferred choice for travel. Emirates' success has been based on leadership, innovation and high standards of service.

Invest in employees

Al Ridha added that Emirates is moving forward by investing in staff, technology and infrastructure to maintain its competitiveness. Today, it is the largest international carrier in the world, and within a short period of time has covered the six continents of the world, and allowed passengers on its flights to use their mobile phones in The atmosphere.

With its strategic location, world-class infrastructure and business facilitation, Dubai has become the ideal choice for organizations seeking to expand and operate from the emirate, especially with the expansions of Dubai International Airport.

World center

Ghaith Al Ghaith, CEO of flydubai, said that Dubai has long been recognized as a commercial and economic center, as the late Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum recognized the importance of air transport in enhancing Dubai's commercial standing. The construction of an airport came in the 1960s, followed years later by the launch of Emirates, followed by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. With more than 25% in the economy of the emirate, which currently has two international airports, and two airlines serve more Al Ghaith stressed that the vision of leadership and its unlimited support to the aviation sector are the key factors in Dubai's transformation into a global aviation hub.

Flexibility and legislation

Al Ghaith continued: “Our partnership with Emirates has highlighted the flexibility that has characterized Dubai, and is still in the civil aviation sector, and its ability to benefit from the airport's operational structure and enhance the competitiveness of this sector.” (3) Dubai International Airport is another example of this flexibility that has enabled us to provide a comfortable and easy travel experience for connecting flights via (Dubai International), and contributed to the transfer of this partnership to new heights of work and growth.

He stressed that Dubai's infrastructure and legislative system will remain competitive and adapt to the changing challenges, whether economic or operational, as evidenced by the continued growth in the number of passengers through Dubai airports, in addition to the expansion and growth witnessed by «Dubai» and «Emirates» in the number of passengers And destinations.

Remove barriers

Al-Ghaith said that the establishment of flydubai came from a visionary leadership that the region's aviation market needs a new concept of travel, according to a strategy to remove barriers to travel and facilitate the flow of trade and tourism.

"When we talk about the new growth prospects, we emphasize here that flydubai since its inception 10 years ago has opened more than 71 new destinations, has suffered the absence or lack of direct flights from Dubai and the UAE."

"Flydubai has been able to create a strong demand for travel to and from these markets, with the numbers of tourists from Central Asia, Africa and Eastern Europe growing by a large percentage," said Al Ghaith. A thousand flights, carrying more than 70 million passengers, is today the second largest carrier at Dubai International Airport.

During 2018, flydubai contributed 12.2% of Dubai International Airport's overall growth, while 31% of the total growth was for European markets.

Abdi: Expansion projects to keep up with strategic plans

Saeed Al-Abdi, Chairman of Al Abdi Travel Holding Company, said that Dubai has continued from the beginning to implement major expansion projects in line with its strategic plans, pointing out that the opening of the Sheikh Rashid Building in April 2000, increased the capacity of the airport from 10 million passengers annually to 25 million . According to the data, the number of passengers at Dubai International Airport rose to 12.3 million in 2000 and more than 24 million in 2005.

Al-Abedi said the airport also witnessed the opening of Terminal 3 and Concourse 2 in October 2008, which will later contribute to increasing the total capacity of the airport to about 60 million passengers. Concourse A was opened in 2008 to contribute to this expansion. Capacity to 75 million passengers annually.

He explained that Dubai later began plans to build the building (Concourse D), which is the last major expansion in the airport, which raised the airport capacity to 90 million passengers, stressing that «Emirates» played a major role in the success of «Dubai International», and was able to change a lot of The concept of air travel globally through its uniqueness to provide outstanding services to travelers, and changed the rules of the game, the latest reveal the design of the interior and new products for its aircraft, including fully closed wings, also used for the first time in the aviation industry virtual windows in the wings, using time camera technology Actual.

He also added: “Emirates has also announced a new technological leadership as it became the first carrier outside the United States to approve the use of biometrics for boarding, using face recognition technology at departure gates, shortening the time it takes to verify Identity to 2 seconds or less, without the need for pre-registration ».

Al Zarooni: «Dubai International» a major tributary of the economy of the Emirate

Director General of Dubai Airport Free Zone Authority, Dr. Mohammed Al Zarouni, said that Dubai International Airport has succeeded in transforming itself into a global strategic hub for air transport and to establish itself as one of the most important airports in the world.

He explained that the airport is a destination that reflects the cultural image of the Emirate of Dubai, and its economic and social development during the past decades, and succeeded in providing exceptional services to travelers from all countries of the world on various interests and tastes.

Success march

He stressed that Dubai International played a key role in the success of the Dubai Airport Free Zone. It also supports the various free zones in the Emirate of Dubai, in achieving its strategic objectives to support the growth of the emirate's economy, pointing out that the contribution of free zones exceeded 33% of the foreign trade of the Emirate of Dubai, and the value of 434 billion dirhams.

Al Zarooni continued: “Dubai International Airport is a major tributary of the emirate's economy and a key enabler of the growth in the volume of trade in the country in general, and Dubai in particular, with various major markets, including those in Asia, which accounted for 62% of the total foreign trade. The UAE and the world over the last year, worth more than one trillion dirhams, which Dubai International Airport contributes mainly, which confirms its importance as an important center for the countries of that region, to transport goods and trade through the airport, which handles about 7700 weekly flights to 260 destinations worldwide ».

Operational processes

Al Zarouni added that Dubai International Airport has succeeded in being a link between the east and west of the world, and has the largest share of the contribution of the aviation sector in the Emirate of Dubai, which currently ranges between 25 and 27% of the GDP, and support its targets to reach its share to 195 billion dirhams This is equivalent to 37.5% of the GDP of the Emirate of Dubai, providing about 745 thousand jobs during 2020.

He stressed that the flexibility of operational operations and airport infrastructure, which contributed to the UAE's access to the fourth place globally in the infrastructure of air transport infrastructure, was a key factor in enhancing its competitiveness to other international air transport centers, which is due to its quality first, excellence organization second, and efficiency Thirdly, in addition to the speed of decision-making and the continuous development of the infrastructure and other facilities used in airport operations, both inside and outside buildings.

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