Among the draws, explains Hoor, is inclusivity. “Dubai aims to be one of the best places in the world to live, to work and to invest in. We’re not going to do that without including all members of society. Accessible tourism is a very big part of it; when you look at accessibility, it’s all across the city, in both public and private spaces,” she says giving the example of Dubai Airports, which was recently recognised by the Airports Council International (ACI) for the strides it is making in the field.
“They have dedicated lines for accessibility also for people with hidden disabilities, like people with autism and such. And in the same spirit, this kind of infrastructure is across the entire city, whether it’s in the public or private sector.”
Dubai International recently achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first international airport to secure the Certified Autism Center designation, conferred by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards.
Dubai has an aim to be one of the best places in the world to live, to work and to invest in. We’re not going to do that without including all members of society
– Hoor Al Khaja
Dubai International’s accomplishment is a pivotal stride in Dubai’s city-wide initiative, championed by the DET, aiming to establish the city as a Certified Autism Destination. This designation is granted by IBCCES to communities offering a diverse array of autism-certified accommodations, leisure activities, and entertainment options to create a more welcoming environment for autistic guests, individuals with sensory sensitivities, and their families.
Dubai Airports is forecasting annual passenger traffic at Dubai International (DXB) to reach 86.8 million – surpassing 2019 traffic. DXB commenced the second half of 2023 with its growth story continuing unabated, with average monthly traffic reaching 7.6 million, tracking pre-pandemic levels throughout the third quarter.
As Dubai tops the list of cities with the highest spending by international visitors with a total earning of $29.4 billion, the city is also encouraging stopovers – and this is a prime marketing strategy. “As Dubai Tourism we have heavily promoted stopovers. We’re going to continue that campaign in 2024.
“Sometimes people are transiting through, but they don’t know that they don’t need a visa because of the country they come from. We’re going to show them options of how they can come into the city because if they come out for two hours and experience something they like, they’re bound to come back again. So, it is a huge segment of our marketing,” adds Hoor.
Dubai Airports is expecting record-breaking numbers to continue in Q4 and 2024. With a current capacity of 100 million passengers annually at DXB, the deployment of innovative technology, expansion and refurbishment of existing infrastructures and more efficient use of its space and resources is expected to propel the airport’s capacity to 120 million.
It’s not just airports that are keeping Dubai busy. Cruises are doing rather well in the city, says Hoor. “Cruises are one of our vibrant industries right now. We have, we already kicked off our season, the 2024 season on October 28, with the arrival of the of the first cruise ship. We’re expecting 150, between Mina Rashid and also the new Dubai Harbour. And in line with the UAE year of sustainability, we’re also expecting a lot of sustainable cruise lines.”