Dubai Airports predicts heavy passenger traffic this weekend

Dubai International expects to welcome some seven million passengers during December as traffic builds during the festive season.

With schools across the UAE closing for the holidays mid-month, near-record numbers are anticipated in December with peak traffic anticipated on December 16, 17 and 22, airports operator Dubai Airports said in a statement.

The company said it is working with airlines and other partners to ensure the heavy passenger volumes don’t affect service.

Dubai Airports will increase staff levels and employ new passenger flow monitoring technology that allows the airport, airlines and control authorities to detect and deploy staff to areas of high passenger concentrations.

The airport’s new smart gate service, which allows the use of Emirates ID cards upon arrival and departure, will also reduce immigration transaction times to 10-15 seconds and alleviate congestion at immigration points, the statement said.

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Dubai Airports has also lined up seasonal activities, promotions, prize giveaways and entertainment for passengers.

“Nearly a quarter of a million passengers will be passing through the airport daily during the seasonal peak,” said Anita Mehra, senior vice president of Communication and Reputation at Dubai Airports.

“We have an exciting line up of activities to delight and entertain our passengers, which will give the airport a truly festive atmosphere throughout December.”

Festive touches include a Swarovski crystal tree, a gift-wrapping station, seasonal restaurant menus and festively decorated buggies.

Children can build a snowman in the Kid’s Zone in Concourse B, and an interactive digital game ‘Find Pedro’ will be available in Concourse D, with guaranteed prizes from food and beverage outlets at the airport.

The musicDXB stage in Concourse B will also feature carol singing from Dubai Duty Free Choir on December 15 and a special performance by X Factor Middle East winner Hamza Hawsawi on December 23.

The world’s busiest airport for international passenger traffic, Dubai International is expected to welcome around 83 million passengers this year – up from 78 million last year.

Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths has said he expects 90 million passengers to pass through Dubai International Airport by the end of 2017.

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