Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid briefed on Dubai airport’s success

DUBAI // Passenger traffic at Dubai International Airport rose by 15 per cent in July compared with the same period last year, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai was told yesterday.

Growth is expected to continue as passenger numbers reach 80 million by the end of the year, according to projections by Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and chairman of the Emirates Group and president of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority.

Sheikh Mohammed expressed his satisfaction with the updating of services and facilities for travellers, a move that he said has earned the country a good reputation.

“Our planes carry along with them the messages of love and peace from our people to people from other parts of the world to bring cultures closer,” Sheikh Mohammed said during a visit to the airport.

Sheikh Mohammed, accompanied by Sheikh Ahmed, toured Terminal 3, which is designated for the first, second and business classes.

He also inspected 50 Emirates Airline counters, including passport section, and first and second class counters.

The royal delegation rode the monorail from Terminal 3 to the Emirates’ Airbus A380 Concourse 3, home to airliner’s growing fleet of super jumbos.

Sheikh Mohammed was also accompanied during the tour by Khalifa Saeed Suleiman, director-general of protocols and hospitality department in Dubai, Khalifa Al Zafeen, chief executive of Dubai Airports, Maj Gen Obaid Mohair, deputy director-general of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreign Affairs in Dubai and others.

@thenational