One billion passengers welcomed to Dubai
The billionth passenger to travel through Dubai International Airport arrived on Thursday afternoon after a 14-hour flight from Orlando, Florida, recording a landmark moment for the airport.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, announced the achievement.
The billionth passenger was Arjun, 9, who arrived at Dubai International with his family.
They were told they will experience four days of the best Dubai has to offer.
“Dubai International Airport received its one billionth passenger today, marking a new phase in its journey towards a bright future,” Sheikh Mohammed said.
“One billion passengers have made DXB a part of their personal story and helped to shape Dubai into a global hub.”
Arjun and his older brother Varun, 13, were travelling with their mother Ramya and father Venkatesh on an Emirates flight from the United States, which arrived at 12.30pm.
Arjun and his family will stay at Atlantis, The Palm, ferried around by a Tesla limousine and experience four days of Dubai luxury including a guided tour of the Burj Khalifa, a personal shopping experience at Dubai Mall, backstage access and tickets to La Perle, a day at the Aquaventure water park and a private desert safari.
The family were selected at random from flight EK220, which was to hold the billionth passenger.
They were greeted by Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed, president of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and chief executive of Emirates Group, who welcomed them to their first visit to Dubai.
“This landmark billionth passenger achievement is the result of teamwork and collaboration, and special thanks go out to each and every member of the airport community who have played a role in this journey,” Sheikh Ahmed said.
“Of course, we would not be in this position if it were not for the visionary leadership of Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, both of whom foresaw the development of Dubai into a global centre for trade, tourism and commerce enabled by a fast-growing and world-leading aviation sector with topflight airport infrastructure.”
Arjun clapped after hitting a red button on a podium, triggering a cascade of confetti from the ceiling. Sheikh Mohammed said Dubai was “committed to remaining the first choice in carrying people across borders, helping them to fulfil dreams, meet loved ones and discover the world’s wonders”.
The airport, which is the world’s busiest by international passenger traffic, opened in 1960 with a 1,800-metre runway made of compacted sand.
It took 51 years to reach its 500 millionth passenger, who flew on December 31, 2011, but only seven more years to welcome the next 500 million. This year, the airport expects to cater to more than 90 million passengers through three terminals.
The airport has grown considerably over the years, reflecting the development of the emirate. There are now three terminals and the world’s first and largest A380-friendly concourse. The airport is the home base for Emirates Airlines and low-cost sister airline flydubai.
It is also a centre of innovation in the commercial passenger industry, being the first airport to trial face-scanning tunnels which could replace immigration officers.
India, the UK and Saudi Arabia were the airport’s top destinations in October, with nearly a million passengers travelling to India.
Next year, airlines at Dubai International Airport will reduce flights for 45 days while the southern runway is closed for resurfacing.
It started operations as a compacted-sand airstrip in a quiet corner of the Arabian Gulf. Now one of the busiest airline centres in the world, the vast Dubai International Airport yesterday announced it had handled one billion passengers since it opened in 1960