The UAE's airports recorded significant growth in passenger traffic in 2024 when they collectively handled 147.8 million travellers, up 10 per cent annually, as the country solidifies its position as a global hub for travel, business and investment.
The UAE last year recorded 41.6 million inbound passengers, while 41.7 million departed, and 64.4 million transited through its airports, according to the latest data by the country's General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA).
The growth of the aviation sector, one of the key drivers of the UAE's economic expansion, led to an increase in the number of jobs with 9,622 registered pilots, 35,899 cabin crew members, 4,493 engineers, 461 air traffic controllers and 419 dispatchers, the aviation sector regulator said. It did not provide comparable numbers for 2023.
With the influx of tourists, expats and investors into the UAE, the number of air traffic movements reached 1.03 million flights in 2024, marking the highest recorded air traffic volume in the country's history, according to the GCAA.
More than half of the UAE airports' total passenger traffic in 2024 was funneled through Dubai International Airport (DXB), the world's busiest hub by international passengers for a decade.
Dubai International Airport handled a record 92.3 million passengers last year, an annual increase of nearly 6 per cent, following a strong fourth quarter.
DXB, home to long-haul airline Emirates, beat its November forecast of 91.9 million annual passengers last year, up from 87 million in 2023 and exceeding its pre-Covid record of 89.1 million in 2018.
The emirate's aviation growth contributes to its Dubai Economic Agenda D33’s target of becoming one of the world’s top five logistics hubs and doubling foreign trade by expanding connections to 400 new cities globally.
Dubai attracted 18.7 million international tourists in 2024, up 9 per cent annually, as the emirate pushes to diversify its economy through non-oil sectors such as aviation, tourism, trade, logistics, technology and financial services.
Meanwhile in Abu Dhabi, passenger traffic across the UAE capital's five airports hit a record 29.4 million travellers in 2024, up 28 per cent year-on-year, driven by growth at Zayed International Airport that is home to Gulf major Etihad Airways.
Abu Dhabi's Zayed International Airport handled 28.8 million passengers last year, up from 22.4 in 2023, as the emirate's main hub added airlines and expanded its network. It connected travellers to a network of more than 125 destinations with 29 routes launched last year.
The hub is home to Etihad Airways, which is pressing ahead with plans to triple passenger numbers to 33 million and double its fleet to 150 planes by the end of the decade.
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
Wicked
Director: Jon M Chu
Stars: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
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World record transfers
1. Kylian Mbappe - to Real Madrid in 2017/18 - €180 million (Dh770.4m - if a deal goes through)
2. Paul Pogba - to Manchester United in 2016/17 - €105m
3. Gareth Bale - to Real Madrid in 2013/14 - €101m
4. Cristiano Ronaldo - to Real Madrid in 2009/10 - €94m
5. Gonzalo Higuain - to Juventus in 2016/17 - €90m
6. Neymar - to Barcelona in 2013/14 - €88.2m
7. Romelu Lukaku - to Manchester United in 2017/18 - €84.7m
8. Luis Suarez - to Barcelona in 2014/15 - €81.72m
9. Angel di Maria - to Manchester United in 2014/15 - €75m
10. James Rodriguez - to Real Madrid in 2014/15 - €75m
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Racecard
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Qyubic
Started: October 2023
Founder: Namrata Raina
Based: Dubai
Sector: E-commerce
Current number of staff: 10
Investment stage: Pre-seed
Initial investment: Undisclosed
French Touch
Carla Bruni
(Verve)
Spec%20sheet
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The specs: 2018 Nissan Patrol Nismo
Price: base / as tested: Dh382,000
Engine: 5.6-litre V8
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 428hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 560Nm @ 3,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.7L / 100km
What is Folia?
Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal's new plant-based menu will launch at Four Seasons hotels in Dubai this November. A desire to cater to people looking for clean, healthy meals beyond green salad is what inspired Prince Khaled and American celebrity chef Matthew Kenney to create Folia. The word means "from the leaves" in Latin, and the exclusive menu offers fine plant-based cuisine across Four Seasons properties in Los Angeles, Bahrain and, soon, Dubai.
Kenney specialises in vegan cuisine and is the founder of Plant Food Wine and 20 other restaurants worldwide. "I’ve always appreciated Matthew’s work," says the Saudi royal. "He has a singular culinary talent and his approach to plant-based dining is prescient and unrivalled. I was a fan of his long before we established our professional relationship."
Folia first launched at The Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills in July 2018. It is available at the poolside Cabana Restaurant and for in-room dining across the property, as well as in its private event space. The food is vibrant and colourful, full of fresh dishes such as the hearts of palm ceviche with California fruit, vegetables and edible flowers; green hearb tacos filled with roasted squash and king oyster barbacoa; and a savoury coconut cream pie with macadamia crust.
In March 2019, the Folia menu reached Gulf shores, as it was introduced at the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay, where it is served at the Bay View Lounge. Next, on Tuesday, November 1 – also known as World Vegan Day – it will come to the UAE, to the Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach and the Four Seasons DIFC, both properties Prince Khaled has spent "considerable time at and love".
There are also plans to take Folia to several more locations throughout the Middle East and Europe.
While health-conscious diners will be attracted to the concept, Prince Khaled is careful to stress Folia is "not meant for a specific subset of customers. It is meant for everyone who wants a culinary experience without the negative impact that eating out so often comes with."
The Settlers
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Rating: 5/5
White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogen
Chromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxide
Ultramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica content
Ophiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on land
Olivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour
Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
