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UAE's ambitions soar with aviation

Though Dubai has had an airport since 1960, it was only in the 1980s the journey to build a comprehensive aviation infrastructure began.

Ever since the opening up of its skies in 1937, Dubai has achieved a quantum leap and is now a force to reckon with in aviation. The vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has resulted in an indelible economic transformation. The aviation industry will contribute 45 per cent of Dubai's GDP by 2030, according to Oxford Economics.
Though Dubai has had an airport since 1960, it was only in the 1980s the journey to build a comprehensive aviation infrastructure began. Now boasting three terminals, including the world's first and largest A380 terminal, Dubai hosted one billionth passenger in 2019. DXB had been ranked the world's third largest airport for passenger traffic, and the emirate continued its success in 2019 by remaining the world's number one airport for international travellers for the sixth consecutive year.
The Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and all our major aviation industry players such as Emirates airlines, Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE), Dubai Air Navigation Services (dans), Dubai Airports, Dubai Duty Free (DDF) and flydubai have done well and continue to contribute to Dubai's journey of success.
In 2019, the UAE was also elected to the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Council for the fifth consecutive term. The UAE is a force to reckon with in aviation having four national carriers flying to over 224 cities in 108 countries around the world, with a fleet of over 498 aircraft. The UAE continues to maintain its top global ranking for both aviation safety and security standards. The UAE has remained the country with the world's second highest number of Open Skies deals, with Solomon Islands joining the list of 122 countries in 2019.
Overall, 2019 was a great year for the aviation industry. Growth is expected to be firm and wide this year for aviation, tourism, and other crucial economic sectors.
Expo 2020, the largest show on earth which the UAE is hosting in Dubai from October 2020, will play an important role in bringing over 25 million visitors over a six-month period and participation by over 192 countries in the first-ever Expo in the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia (MENASA) region. I am confident that all the stakeholders will continue their unstinted efforts in being a source of inspiration and commitment to re-write our success story far better.
Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum is the President of DCAA and Chairman of Dubai Airports