India-UAE travel: Dubai-India aviation ties soar, as Emirates carries 90m passengers over 40 years

Dubai: Emirates Airline, a key symbol of the UAE’s robust ties with India, has carried more than 90 million passengers between Dubai and India since it began operations in 1985.

This was revealed amid the first official India visit by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Defence of the UAE and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, which concluded on Wednesday.

Emirates currently operates 167 weekly flights, connecting Dubai to nine Indian cities, according to the Government of Dubai Media Office (DMO). This milestone reflects the growing significance of the India-Dubai air corridor, with Emirates playing a pivotal role in enhancing connectivity between the two nations.

Another step forward

Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman of Dubai Airports, and Chairman and CEO of Emirates Airline and Group, who accompanied Sheikh Hamdan during his official visit to India, highlighted the airline’s long-standing relationship with the country.

Writing on social media platform X, Sheikh Ahmed said: “India was one of @Emirates' very first destinations, serving over 90 million passengers across 40 years of operation. This visit marks another step forward in the mutual vision for growth and innovation between our two great nations.”

He further expressed his honour in accompanying Sheikh Hamdan during the visit and added: “Our discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and senior Indian officials reaffirmed the deep ties between the UAE and India, built on decades of collaboration.”

Ever-expanding demand

As Dubai and India’s aviation ties continue to expand, the demand for travel between the two countries has surged. The DMO has revealed that 538 weekly flights are now operated by six major carriers, connecting Dubai to 23 key Indian destinations. These impressive figures underscore how the aviation partnership between Dubai and India has soared, becoming one of the busiest and most significant air corridors in the world.

India continues to hold its position as the largest destination market for Dubai International Airport (DXB), with 12 million out of a total of 92.3 million passengers travelling between Dubai and India in 2024. This reflects the enduring popularity and demand for air travel between the two nations, driven by their strong economic, cultural, and tourism links.

As the tourism sector booms, DMO said, Dubai welcomed a record 3.14 million visitors from South Asia in 2024, with India contributing the largest share of this influx.

The continued expansion of Dubai’s aviation network is expected to further strengthen bilateral trade, tourism, and business relations between the UAE and India. It will also provide greater connectivity for millions of travellers, reinforcing Dubai's position as a global aviation hub.