Dubai airport sees surge in arrivals bolstered by Russian influx / Photo: GIUSEPPE CACACE - AFP
-
Best Pet Advent Calendars for Christmas 2026: Dog Treats and Cat Toys
-
IIM Indore Announces IPMAT 2027 Exam Date for April 24
-
Grattan Institute Releases Blueprint to Target Specialists Over Excessive Fees
-
The Dilemma of Recording Live Music: Preserving Memories vs. Being Present
-
Arizona Science Center Hosts Girls in STEM Astro Adventures for Students
-
ANC’s Renewal Rhetoric Fades as Voters Reject Party in 2026 Local Elections
-
New Turkish Cafe, Japanese BBQ, and Korean Restaurants Open Across East Bay
-
Foreign Investors Return to Indian Markets After 10-Month Selloff
-
Knowle Move Four Points Clear at Top After Histon Victory
-
Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4 Lead Canada’s Most Stolen Vehicles List for 2025
-
Physicians Urge Arizona to Ban Medical Gag Clauses and Enable Private Lawsuits
-
China Extends Tariff Suspension on US Imports to Stabilize Trade Ties
-
New Campaign Highlights Knowledge Gaps on Carbon Monoxide Safety Among Americans
-
JR East Launches 'teppay' to Integrate Suica Balance with Mobile Payments
Dubai airport sees surge in arrivals bolstered by Russian influx
Dubai's airport welcomed 66 million passengers in 2022, more than double the previous year, it said Tuesday, a spike its chief executive attributed to "huge growth" in Russian travellers.
The main business hub of the oil-rich United Arab Emirates is home to one of the world's busiest airports.
The airport "welcomed a total of 66,069,981 passengers during 2022", representing year-on-year growth of 127 percent, according to a statement.
In 2021, around 29.1 million passengers passed through Dubai, and the authorities had expected 57 million visitors for the year 2022.
India, Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom topped passenger arrivals but Russia has also "been an important contributor", CEO Paul Griffiths said.
"We've seen a huge growth in the Russian market since the... tensions between Ukraine and Russia" started on year ago, he told AFP.
Russians accounted for 1.9 million passengers -- more than double the 912,000 recorded for 2021, Griffiths said.
The UAE has maintained a neutral stance towards Russia's war in Ukraine, which is nearing its one-year anniversary.
The Gulf nation has emerged as a top destination for rich Russian emigres fleeing the impact of Western sanctions.
Russians were the top buyers of Dubai properties last year, according to brokerage Betterhomes, bolstering the city's record real estate transactions last year.
Dubai's airport was briefly closed to commercial flights from March to July 2020 due to Covid-19. It was one of the first travel hubs to reopen after the pandemic.
In 2020, it received only 25.9 million passengers, down from the 86 million the previous year.
F.Carias--PC
