Dubai Airports COO Majed Al Joker Confirms Readiness For Increased Passenger Traffic This Season

Majed Al Joker, the Chief Operating Officer of Dubai Airports, has confirmed the airport's readiness for the rainy season and the anticipated surge in passenger numbers. He emphasised that strategic partnerships and advanced planning, backed by passenger data analysis, are key to managing this expected increase in activity.

Al Joker noted that Dubai Airports expects to accommodate over 23.2 million passengers in the last quarter of this year. This would bring the total number of passengers for 2023 to 91.9 million. He highlighted that the holiday season, vacations, and favourable weather conditions contribute to this increase in visitor flow.

The third-quarter results for this year showed a significant rise, with 23.7 million passengers recorded compared to 21.8 million in the second quarter. This growth reflects ongoing efforts to enhance airport operations and manage increasing traffic efficiently.

Al Joker also shared projections for future growth in passenger numbers. The airport anticipates handling over 94 million passengers by 2025 and more than 97 million by 2026. The target is set to reach 100 million passengers between 2027 and 2028.

In discussions with Emirates News Agency (WAM), Al Joker stressed continuous coordination with government bodies and strategic partners through regular meetings. These efforts aim to manage potential increases in passenger traffic effectively.

He mentioned that plans are already in place to prepare staff and ensure that the airport remains ready for any eventualities during peak periods. Regular reviews of forecasts are conducted with an aim to surpass expectations, although numbers might fluctuate due to varying visitor traffic.

Yearly Performance Insights

The total number of passengers during the first nine months of this year reached 68.6 million, marking a 6.3% increase compared to the same period last year. Additionally, there was a notable rise of 6.4% in flight numbers, totalling 327,000 flights, indicating sustained growth at Dubai Airports.

This performance underscores Dubai Airports' commitment to maintaining high standards of service while accommodating growing passenger numbers efficiently.

With inputs from WAM