Habibi, come to Dubai

Dubai tops TikTok charts as the most viewed destination in the world.

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Dubai is seeing a remarkable boom in its tourism sector in 2023, drawing flocks of global visitors and topping TikTok’s charts as the most viewed destination in the world.

Dubai International (DXB), among the world's busiest international hubs, welcomed an impressive 41.6 million guests in H1, a remarkable 100% increase compared to the same period in 2019.

Boom times for air travel

Dubai International’s top source markets are India, Saudi Arabia and the UK. Photo Credit: Cheryl Teo

DXB's resurgence has been particularly evident in the second quarter, where passenger traffic surged by 42.7% year-on-year, reaching a staggering 20.3 million travellers. May, in particular, emerged as the busiest month of Q2, with 6.9 million guests passing through the airport. The impressive performance in the second quarter propelled DXB's 1H traffic to a remarkable 49.1% growth compared to 1H 2022, which recorded 27.9 million passengers.

"It's been a rewarding first half for Dubai International, and amidst increasing guest numbers, we take great pride in knowing we are continuously delivering with operational excellence and providing an exemplary guest experience,” said Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports.

India continues to lead as DXB's top market, with 6 million guests in 1H 2023. Following India, Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom secured their positions as key source markets, with 3.1 million and 2.8 million guests, respectively. In terms of city destinations, London, Mumbai, and Riyadh were the top three, with 1.7 million, 1.2 million, and 1.2 million guests, respectively.

Dubai’s passportless future

Soon, passengers flying through Dubai won't need to present their passports. Photo Credit: Cheryl Teo

But the story of Dubai's ascent in the travel world doesn't stop there. Travellers using DXB’s Terminal 3 can look forward to an even more seamless and touchless experience in the near future. Officials have announced the introduction of a biometrics and facial recognition system, slated to debut later this year, around November-December 2023.

Dubai Airports has been working on this project for several years, harnessing the latest biometric technology to facilitate a fully touchless travel journey for passengers. Currently undergoing trials at Dubai International Airport, this system will enable passengers to check in and board their flights using their biometric data, eliminating the need for traditional passports.

Major General Obaid Muhair bin Suroor, deputy director-general of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) described it as a "smart passage" that replaces electronic gates with smart gates for a smoother and more seamless travel experience.

Emirates expands services

Emirates is rapidly ramping up its flight services. Photo Credit: Adobe Stock/Santi Rodríguez

Emirates is bolstering Dubai's global travel hub status with key initiatives. This includes a new daily Dubai-Hong Kong flight from 1 November 2023, increasing weekly flights to 21.

The airline’s extended codeshare with Air Canada now covers Montréal, offering seamless connections to 11 domestic points.

Furthermore, Emirates is upgrading its Sydney service to an all-A380 operation, adding nearly 2,000 weekly seats and enhancing connectivity from November 4, 2023.

Flydubai expands in Egypt

Dubai-based carrier flydubai is also contributing to the growing ease of travel to Dubai. The airline has announced the launch of daily flights to Cairo's Sphinx International Airport starting from 28 October 2023.

This addition of daily flights to Cairo complements flydubai's commitment to serving the Egyptian market, with a total of 17 weekly flights, including daily operations to Alexandria Borg El Arab International Airport. The airline continues to expand its network in Africa, with 12 destinations, including Cairo and Mombasa.