Dubai: Aviation and tourism related activities will contribute $53.1 billion (Dh195 billion) or 37.5 per cent to Dubai’s GDP in 2020 and support over 754,500 jobs, according to Latest Oxford Economics Report.

In 2013, Emirates Airline, Dubai Airports and the aviation sector contributed $26.7 billion or 27 per cent to Dubai’s GDP and supported a total of 416,500 jobs.

The report reaffirms aviation’s growing significance as a major engine of economic development, and its far-reaching contributions to other industries as a catalyst for a spectrum of economic activity.

“Dubai’s success stems from a clear vision, careful planning, and collaborative execution. It is no accident we are a global aviation hub today. It has taken us years to build up the critical competencies and infrastructure that we have today, and we now have a solid base on which to further develop,” Shaikh Ahmad Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates airline and Group and Chairman of the Expo 2020 Higher Committee, said in a statement.

It is estimated that the aviation sector, including the Emirates Group, Dubai Airports, and other aviation businesses such as airlines flying into Dubai, regulatory authorities and Dubai Duty Free, had a core impact of $16.5 billion GVA (gross value added) in 2013.

Moreover, for every $100 of activity in the aviation sector, a further $72 is added in other sectors of the local economy from supply chain connections and expenditures. For every 100 jobs created in aviation, an additional 116 jobs are created elsewhere in Dubai.

Tourism and travel activities in 2013 had an economic impact of $10.2 billion GVA supporting a further 157,100 jobs.

In 2013, the report said that Dubai welcomed nearly 10 million non-UAE visitors who spent $13 billion, accounting for around one per cent of foreign visitor spend globally that year. The success of Dubai as a destination has been a public and private effort to invest in world-class aviation and tourism infrastructure to support the influx of visitors.

The results have paid dividends and Dubai currently captures a 0.4 per cent share of the world’s business and tourism traffic, double the share it had in 2000.

“We will continue to take a consensus-based approach to infrastructure investment, embrace open competition, and focus on opening up and connecting markets through efficient operations. At the end, we want Dubai to be the top choice for international travellers and traders — as a destination, and as a transport hub,” stated Shaikh Ahmad.

Between 2014 and 2020, the contribution of the aviation sector to Dubai’s economy is expected to grow at a faster rate than the economy as a whole, on the back of strong growth in international passenger traffic and cargo. The sector’s airline and airport capacity continues to expand to accommodate for growing demand.

By 2020, it is estimated that Emirates will fly 70 million passengers, and the airline and its partners are already progressing plans for the right infrastructure to be in place to support and capitalise on passenger growth.

By 2020, Dubai International is estimated to receive 126.5 million passengers, almost 30 per cent higher than its original 2010 assessments.

Looking further ahead, the total economic impact of aviation by 2030 is projected to grow to $88.1 billion and will support 1,194,700 jobs.