Some of the swankiest spaces in the sky and some of the most luxurious ways to travel are created by airlines from the UAE regions. The recent UAE Aviation Sector Report seems to suggest that steady growth in the nation's aviation sector and the excellence of this sector as well as the unique geographical location of the UAE creates an effective bridge between the east and the west.
The history of aviation in the UAE dates far back into the last century when the first plane landed at the Al Mahatta airport in Sharjah in October 1932. At the time, the only other airport in the Middle East was in Egypt.
The UAE’s location as well as modern outlook has made the UAE emerge as an ideal transit point connecting the eastern and western hemispheres as well as a safe haven. The growth of religious and retail tourism in the region as well as the spectacularly unique manmade attractions of the nation has steadily continued to attract visitors. All this has ensured that the aviation sector continues to grow rapidly.
The development of internationally acclaimed airlines such as Etihad (Abu Dhabi) and Emirates (Dubai) offering state of the art aviation experiences has cemented the UAE’s position as a world leader in aviation. The importance of the aviation sector in the UAE is demonstrated by the fact that it contributes Dh169 billion (US$46 billion), or around 15% to the country's GDP.
According to the GCAA (General Civil Aviation Authority), there were 882,600 flights within the country's airspace in the last year. 91.3 million passengers passed through Dubai International Airport while that number reached 24 million travelers at Abu Dhabi International Airport. In just the last year, 13 new destinations were added to the aviation network of the UAE; bringing the total up to 444 international destinations.
Top notch airport facilities, advanced telecommunication networks, some of the world’s most luxurious hotels and international business hubs have made the UAE among the most attractive travel destinations for world travellers. International transport agreements and MOUs between the GCAA and their counterparts in other countries have made it possible for the expansion in the aviation sector to continue.
By working with the ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organisation), UAE aviation authorities have ensured that the local as well as international civil aviation security is always prioritised. It is interesting to note that the ICAO’s compressive audit of 2015 rated UAE as No 1 with the highest ever rating of 98.85%.
Dubai has one of the busiest airports in the world, but that is not its only claim to fame. It also boasts the largest and first Concourse A in the world to accommodate the Airbus A380. The proposed expansion plan of USD 7.8 billion includes the construction of Concourse D, reconstruction of Terminal 1 and upgrading of Terminal 2. Abu Dhabi's new international airport will accommodate 84 million travelers a year and will be able to process up to eleven thousand passengers per hour during peak times.
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