UAE-India Travel Partnership Strengthened with Emirates Carrying Ninety Million Passengers, Cementing Aviation Leadership
Emirates Airline has carried 90 million passengers between the UAE and India since 1985, highlighting the strong growth in travel and aviation ties between the nations.
Emirates Airline, a cornerstone of the UAE’s strong relationship with India, has transported over 90 million passengers between Dubai and India since its launch in 1985.
This milestone was unveiled during the first official visit to India by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, and UAE Minister of Defence. His visit, which concluded on Wednesday, highlighted the deepening ties between the two nations.
Emirates now operates 167 weekly flights, connecting Dubai to nine major Indian cities, according to the Government of Dubai Media Office (DMO). This achievement underscores the growing importance of the India-Dubai air route, with Emirates playing a crucial role in bolstering travel connectivity between the countries.
A key development in this ongoing partnership, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman of Dubai Airports, and CEO of Emirates Group, emphasized the airline’s enduring relationship with India during the visit.
As aviation ties between Dubai and India continue to strengthen, the demand for air travel between the two nations has skyrocketed. The DMO reports that 538 weekly flights are now operated by six major airlines, connecting Dubai to 23 Indian cities. These impressive numbers reinforce the significance of the Dubai-India air corridor, one of the world’s busiest and most vital.
India remains the largest market for Dubai International Airport (DXB), with 12 million out of 92.3 million total passengers traveling between Dubai and India in 2024. This highlights the sustained demand for air travel between the two countries, driven by their robust economic, cultural, and tourism ties.
The booming tourism sector is further evidenced by Dubai’s record-breaking 3.14 million visitors from South Asia in 2024, with India contributing the largest share of this influx.
The growth of Dubai’s aviation network is expected to continue fostering stronger bilateral relations in trade, tourism, and business between the UAE and India, offering enhanced connectivity for millions of travelers and solidifying Dubai’s position as a premier global aviation hub.
