Hospitality
In a boost to Dubai’s GDP, DXB sets record with 44.9 million guests in first half
Dubai International (DXB) has raised the bar on its contribution to Dubai’s economy by welcoming a record 44.9 million guests during the first six months of this year.
Marking an 8% year-on-year increase in guests, DXB has established its position as a globally preferred gateway, boosted by strong connectivity with key international markets, while reaffirming its central role in supporting Dubai’s economic growth.
Dubai attracted 9.31 million international visitors in H1 2024, reflecting its burgeoning appeal as a global hub for talent, enterprises, and investors. These figures, recently released by Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism, tie in closely with the growth of Dubai’s GDP, which reached AED 115 billion in Q1 2024, up 3.2% from the previous year.
Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, commented, “The record-breaking performance in the first half of this year highlights our strategic importance as a global aviation hub. Dubai is at the forefront of global cities when it comes to attracting talent, businesses, and tourists from around the world, and we are proud to be the gateway to the city, driving growth and enhancing the airport experience for every guest. Strong demand from key source markets such as India and the gradual but certain resurgence of markets such as China, have been instrumental in our success. We have a very optimistic outlook for the remainder of the year, and we are on track to break records with 91.8 million annual guests forecasted for 2024.”
Established and growing markets
The size and significance of DXB’s established and growing markets including South Asia, Western Europe, the GCC, and East Asia has played a crucial role in the airport’s continued success. In the first half of 2024, India remains DXB’s top destination country with 6.1 million passengers, while traffic from China exceeded 1 million passengers, representing 80% year-on-year growth and a 90% recovery compared to 2019 levels.
DXB’s top destination countries after India are Saudi Arabia with 3.7 million guests, the United Kingdom with 2.9 million guests and Pakistan with 2.3 million guests. Other significant markets include the United States (1.7 million guests), Russia (1.3 million), and Germany (1.3 million). The top three city destinations were London with 1.8 million guests, Riyadh (1.6 million), and Mumbai (1.2 million).
DXB is connected to 269 destinations across 106 countries, served by 101 international airlines, reinforcing Dubai’s position as a leading global business and logistics hub.
Key figures
The total number of flight movements reached 216,000, a 7.2% increase compared to the first six months of last year. The busiest month was January with 7.9 million guests.
DXB efficiently managed 39.7 million bags in the first half of the year, a 6.7% year-on-year increase, marking the highest-ever baggage volume handled in the first half of the year. Highlighting the airport’s commitment to operational excellence, impressively, 92% of all arriving baggage was delivered to guests terminating at DXB within 45 minutes of the aircraft arriving on stand.
The average number of guests per aircraft movement was 213, and the load factor remained steady at 77% compared to H1 2023. Direct traffic accounted for 56% of the total, witnessing a slight increase, while transfer traffic comprised 44%.
Meanwhile, during the second quarter of 2024, the airport saw 21.8 million guests, an increase of 7.5% compared to the same period last year and total movements were recorded at 107,000.
Enhancing the guest experience
As part of Dubai Airports’ continuous efforts to enhance the guest experience, with a focus on operational excellence and seamless travel experiences, new developments will be rolled out in the coming months. These include colour-coded car parks for easier navigation, a new signature aroma in Al Majlis to create a welcoming atmosphere befitting the VIP facility, and an advanced queue management system.
The real-time monitoring system used at DXB helps the airport anticipate and prevent queues from building up across touchpoints, ensuring a smoother and more efficient journey for all guests. During H1, 98% of guests experienced less than 10 minutes of wait times at departure passport control and the same percentage waited less than 15 minutes at arrivals passport control. 95% of guests at departure security screening waited less than three minutes.
Hospitality
A REIMAGINED PRIME68 RETURNS TO JW MARRIOTT MARQUIS DUBAI ALONGSIDE ION, A NEW “NEIGHBOURHOOD IN THE SKY”
As JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai continues its property-wide enhancement, this December will see the return of Prime68 alongside the arrival of ION, marking a major moment in the hotel’s dining transformation. Prime68 has long been regarded as one of Dubai’s best steakhouses, and following a complete renovation, the destination returns fully reimagined with a fresh new look. ION, a brand-new day-to-night sky lounge, has taken over the 71st and 72nd floors of the iconic hotel, marking one of the most significant additions yet to its dining line-up.
Prime68 returns as a contemporary benchmark steakhouse high above the city, defined by serious cuts, serious views and a renewed sense of occasion. Building on its strong market equity and iconic skyline setting, the reimagined venue pairs premium cuts, live-fire cooking and a considered wine programme with renovated interiors inspired by “The Art of Silver,” a design narrative rooted in craft, precision and understated elegance.
New additions include an enhanced arrival experience with an atmospheric bar, private dining rooms, a chef’s table and a wine display, with every detail carefully reconsidered to bring greater theatre, warmth and refinement to the Prime68 experience. The result is a destination that feels both familiar and newly elevated, shaped by materiality, acoustics, simplicity and the premium dining rituals that have long made classic steakhouses enduringly relevant.
ION introduces a new day-to-night sky lounge high above the city, set across the 71st and 72nd floors, where Dubai’s skyline becomes the starting point for a more layered social experience. Designed as “a neighbourhood in the sky,” ION brings together panoramic views, music-led energy, crafted drinks and sharing plates in a setting that evolves as the hours unfold. By day, it offers a refined place to pause above the city; as golden hour arrives, the atmosphere warms into a more social rhythm; and by night, the space becomes a cinematic lounge shaped by sound, light and connection.
Prime68 and ION form part of JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai’s wider property enhancement, bringing two distinct new experiences to the city and signalling an exciting new era for the iconic hotel.
Hospitality
Radisson Blu Hotel Dubai Deira Creek Invites Guests to Celebrate Diwali with Family, Flavour and Festive Stays
As families come together to celebrate the Festival of Light, Radisson Blu Hotel Dubai Deira Creek will welcome Diwali with an afternoon shaped around the traditions, flavours and shared moments that make the occasion so special. Taking place on Saturday, 7 November from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., the hotel’s Greenhouse Social Brunch will bring together food, music, art and family entertainment in a colourful celebration inspired by Diwali.

An Afternoon of Diwali Flavours and Family Traditions
Designed as an occasion for families and friends to gather around the table, the brunch will feature an abundant buffet of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes, offering something for every generation. The experience will be priced at AED 199 for the soft package, AED 345 with house beverages and AED 99 for children, with an early-bird rate of AED 119 for those planning ahead.
The afternoon will extend beyond the dining table, inviting guests to experience Diwali through music, creativity and play. At the Baithak area, guests can settle in with a cup of chai while Indian folk music provides a relaxed soundtrack to the afternoon. Families can also join in Antakshari, bringing generations together through one of India’s much-loved musical games.
For younger guests and those young at heart, a series of hands-on workshops will capture the creative spirit of the festival. Diya painting, rangoli making and henna will give families the opportunity to create, learn and celebrate together, while a Diwali Market will add to the festive atmosphere with a showcase of local craftsmanship.
At its heart, the celebration reflects the warmth of Diwali, a festival traditionally associated with light, new beginnings and the joy of gathering with loved ones. Rather than simply marking the occasion with a meal, the Greenhouse Social Brunch will create a setting where families can slow down, share stories, discover traditions and make new memories together.
Stay, Celebrate and Make Memories
The Diwali celebration will form part of the hotel’s wider seasonal programme, with a collection of accommodation offers inviting guests to make the most of the festive period. The Festival of Lights Diwali Room Offer, designed with Indian travellers and families in mind, will be available for stays from 1 to 15 November 2026, followed by the UAE National Day Room Offer, welcoming UAE residents and GCC travellers from 16 November to 2 December 2026.
The season will continue into December with a Festive Season Room Offer, combining accommodation with selected Christmas and/or New Year’s Eve gala dining experiences. All three offers are available at a starting rate of AED 400.
With its blend of Indian flavours, cultural traditions and family-focused experiences, Radisson Blu Hotel Dubai Deira Creek’s Diwali celebration will offer a warm setting in which to celebrate the Festival of Colours, bringing people and families together over good food, creativity, music and the simple pleasure of spending time with those who matter most.
Hospitality
Air India and Standard Chartered partner to launch travel and wealth proposition for Global Indians
Air India and Standard Chartered (the “Bank”) today announced a first-of-its-kind partnership that combines Standard Chartered’s international banking and cross-border wealth capabilities with Air India’s premium Maharaja Club loyalty programme. The proposition, available in the coming weeks, is set to deliver travel privileges and access that meet the cross-border lifestyle and wealth needs of Global Indians.
Unlocking travel privileges with Maharaja Club
Standard Chartered will offer Air India’s Maharaja Club Gold or Silver status to eligible Affluent Global Indian clients in Singapore and the UAE. Air India Maharaja Club status offers exclusive travel benefits, including extra baggage allowance, priority check-in and boarding, airport lounge access, upgrade vouchers, and bonus Maharaja Points, with benefits varying incrementally from Silver to Gold tiers.
In particular, Maharaja Club Gold members also enjoy the benefits on eligible Air India journeys, as well as Star Alliance Gold status, which provides access to over 1,000 airport lounges worldwide, priority airport services, and extra baggage benefits, and instant recognition around the world across 25 other Star Alliance member airlines in addition to Air India.
Managing cross-border financial needs
Air India customers who meet Standard Chartered’s eligibility criteria can access the Bank’s international banking and wealth management capabilities through its wealth centres in Singapore and the UAE. Customers would benefit from dedicated relationship management support, market outlook insights from the Bank’s Chief Investment Office, invitations to exclusive thought leadership events, and tailored wealth solutions designed to support their cross-border financial needs.
Rajesh Kannan, Head, Wealth and Retail Banking, UAE & Jersey, and Head, Global Indian Clients, Standard Chartered, said: “This partnership brings together two trusted heritage brands to create a distinctive proposition for Global Indians, whose lives, business and ambitions increasingly span borders. By combining Air India’s expanding global footprint with Standard Chartered’s international network and wealth capabilities, we are delivering exclusive multi-market travel benefits to our affluent clients while supporting their broader global lifestyle, business and wealth management needs.”
Nipun Aggarwal, Chief Commercial Officer, Air India, said: “As Air India continues its transformation into a world-class global airline, we are focused on deepening our engagement with the global Indian community. This partnership with Standard Chartered enables us to expand Maharaja Club across key international markets, offering customers immediate access to premium status, enhanced travel benefits and global recognition. Combined with Standard Chartered’s cross-border banking and wealth management expertise, the proposition supports the increasingly international lifestyles of our customers while strengthening their connection with Air India.”
With a simplified structure, a host of customer-friendly features, renamed tiers, and an updated identity, Maharaja Club has added millions of new members since the programme was redesigned in 2024. Maharaja Club members are now able to earn and redeem Maharaja Points on flights operated by Air India and Air India Express to and from 104 destinations across North America, Europe (including the UK), Australia, Middle East, Africa, Southeast Asia, South Asia, in addition 25 other Star Alliance member airlines. Maharaja Club’s partnerships with over 100 other brands across categories, including hospitality, retail, lifestyle and financial services, also enables members to earn Maharaja Points across a broad range of travel and everyday spends.
Benefits on eligible Air India journeys include complimentary seat selection, applicable fee waivers, additional baggage allowance, lounge access, priority airport services, upgrade vouchers and bonus Maharaja Points, subject to subject to the programme’s terms and conditions.
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