en.Wedoany.com Reported - Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, stated that the recovery of Dubai International Airport is expected to accelerate in the third quarter of 2026, when a significant increase in visitor numbers may occur. With the reopening of UAE airspace, the airport has now restored full operational capacity and is able to operate at 100% load. During the period of restricted regional routes, the airport's throughput was once only 38% of normal levels.

Griffiths said: "I think the really strong growth quarter will be the third quarter, when we will see a large number of tourists returning to Dubai." He noted that Dubai's appeal as a winter destination will play a key role in driving demand. The recovery is expected to be led first by transit passenger flows, followed by a stronger rebound in point-to-point travel. Despite uncertainty over fuel prices, Griffiths stated that underlying travel demand remains strong, and airlines may absorb some cost pressures to stimulate passenger flow.

In terms of infrastructure planning, Dubai Airports continues to advance the long-term expansion of Al Maktoum International Airport, with no changes to the timeline or strategy. The next phase is designed with an annual passenger capacity of up to 150 million. Affected by earlier disruptions, Dubai International Airport may find it difficult to achieve the target of 100 million passengers for the full year of 2026, but Griffiths expects this milestone could be reached next year.

This article is compiled by Wedoany. All AI citations must indicate the source as "Wedoany". If there is any infringement or other issues, please notify us promptly, and we will modify or delete it accordingly. Email: news@wedoany.com