The Associated Press
The 10.6 million passengers that passed through the airport over the past six months “is still very positive," Griffiths told The Associated Press. “I think coupled with the restrictions easing that we’re now seeing, will bode very well for a satisfactory end to the year.” Although the UAE recently lifted an entry ban on India, Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka, which are home to most of the vast foreign workforce in the federation, stringent vaccination requirements still bar many from boarding flights to the country.
And after months of frustration and confusion, the U.K. last week removed the UAE from its “red list” that ordered all travelers to quarantine for 10 days in costly, government-approved hotels. The upgrade to “amber” elicited a strong sigh of relief throughout the federation of seven sheikhdoms, home to some 120,000 British expats. London was ranked as the top destination city for Dubai’s airport in 2020, with 1.15 million customers.