There are 7 international airports throughout the country and the UAE is home to two major international airlines, Emirates and Etihad, as well as the two leading low-cost airlines in the region, Air Arabia and flydubai. The emirate of Dubai in particular has long focused on leveraging aviation to drive economic growth.
The growth of aviation capacity throughout the country is set to continue with expansions planned at several of the country’s airports, the biggest of which is the development of Al Maktoum International at Dubai World Central, which, once complete, will be the world’s largest airport.
By 2030, the six largest airports in the country are expected to have a total combined capacity of 300m passengers per annum. The addition this level of capacity has left some critics openly questioning the feasibility of this expansion. However, local aviation insiders counter that the increased capacity will cater to the global market.