The number of passengers travelling through Dubai’s two main airports is expected to increase to 98.5 million by 2020.
The figure is more than double the 47.2 million passengers Dubai Airports recorded in 2010.
Dubai Airports owns and operates both of Dubai’s airports – Dubai International and the currently cargo-traffic only Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International.
Paul Griffiths, Dubai Airports’ CEO, predicted Dubai International will become the busiest airport in the world for international passenger traffic as early as 2015.
“Increased liberalisation, GDP growth and increasingly affluent and mobile populations in emerging markets will combine to propel air travel growth worldwide,” he said.
“Dubai is extremely well positioned to capitalise on that growth. We are eight hours from two-thirds of the world’s population and on the doorstep of two of the most dynamic markets in the world – India and China.”
Griffiths said the combination of rallying tourism and Dubai’s established role as a trading hub linking economies in the Far East, Europe, Africa and North America, were also key advantages.
Dubai’s two largest airlines, Emirates and flydubai, have already placed significant aircraft orders to meet the expected demand, he added.
Concourse 3, Dubai International’s dedicated A380 facility, is set to open in 2012, when Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International will also start passenger services.