07 May 2009

Dubai growth continuing after record year

Global visitors to Dubai reached a record of 7,531,299 in 2008, an increase of eight per cent over the previous year.

Arrivals from the UK and Ireland rose by 13% to 906,611, according to official figures.

The overall rise in visitors led to a 15% increase in hotel revenues for the year 2008 to £2.5 billion and a16% increase in the number of hotel rooms and hotel apartments to 49,598.

And the emirate appears to be continuing to defy the global economic downturn with a two per cent rise in first quarter arrivals.

Figures from Dubai International Airport for the first three months of the year show that 9.5 million passengers were handled.

January was the busiest month with 3.3 million passengers, a year-on-year increase of six per cent.

For the whole of last year, the airport handled 37.44 million passengers, representing a year-on-year growth ofnine per cent.

Dubai International was the only airport among the world’s top ten busiest to show positive growth in the last quarter of 2008 and the first quarter of 2009.

The first quarter of the year saw five new international carriers, including Europe’s Air Atlanta, added to Dubai’s growing portfolio of airlines.

This means that Dubai is served by 125 airlines flying from more than 200 destinations across six continents.

Its first low cost airline, flydubai, will launch later this year serving regional destinations with in a four-hour flying time.

Ian Scott, UK & Ireland director of The Government of Dubai, Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, said: "Despite the current global economic climate people are continuing to travel. Dubai has seen a healthy increase in passenger traffic throughout 2008 and the start of 2009, and this is forecast to continue throughout the rest of this year.

"This growth reaffirms Dubai’s position as a leading international hub for leisure and business travel, with Dubai International Airport the only international airport world-wide to register positive growth during the last quarter of 2008.

"Dubai’s pioneering vision is clearly demonstrated across the aviation sector, and Dubai International Airport’s growth over the last few months highlights the emirate’s position as a major contributor to growth in the region."