A recent report has projected that Dubai will generate 185,000 new jobs in its aviation sector over the next five years, bringing the total workforce in aviation-related positions to 816,000.
According to the report from Emirates Group and Dubai Airports, this recruitment surge, which began gaining momentum in late 2021, is expected to continue for the foreseeable future, as reported by Gulf News. Following the peak of the COVID-19 crisis, there was an unprecedented increase in the hiring of pilots, cabin crew, and ground staff.
In response to this report, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Airports, stated, “Our growth plans will create even more skilled job opportunities and foster innovation as we collaborate with leading technology partners to develop future solutions that enhance travel experiences and improve operational efficiency and security.”
Dubai’s airports currently serve over 88 million passengers, with the emirate welcoming 17 million international visitors in 2023, reflecting strong travel demand.
Furthermore, the Emirates-Dubai Airports study follows the Dubai government’s approval for the development of a new passenger terminal at Dubai World Central—Maktoum International Airport (DWC), which will cost Dh128 billion.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai’s ruler, announced earlier this year that the new terminal at DWC will be five times larger than the existing Dubai International Airport (DXB) and will have the capacity to accommodate up to 260 million passengers annually.
Sheikh Ahmed added, “Our ambitious plans for Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International Airport and our ongoing investments to expand capacity at Dubai International will unlock further economic opportunities by supporting the anticipated demand for air transport.”
While the expansion of DWC was not included in the study’s main impact results, the construction project is projected to contribute approximately Dh6.1 billion to Dubai’s gross domestic product by 2030 and support around 132,000 jobs.
