Dubai International airport tops ACI's air connectivity ranking for MEAP region
Image: WAM
Dubai International (DXB) has retained its position as the top-ranked airport in the Airports Council International (ACI) 2024 Air Connectivity Ranking for the Asia-Pacific and Middle East region, state news agency WAM reported.
Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, said the ranking reflects DXB's vital role in global aviation. 'Connectivity is the cornerstone of relevance in global aviation, and we are pleased to see Dubai International recognised once again as the region's leading hub,' Griffiths said.
DXB currently connects to over 265 destinations across six continents, supporting international trade, tourism, and economic growth.
DXB enables seamless, secure journeys
'What sets
He credited the airport's continued success to the 'oneDXB spirit' – a shared commitment among airline partners, the airport community, and the city of Dubai. 'Together, we are shaping a model of airport connectivity that is agile, guest-focused and economically significant, not just for the region but for the world,' he said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The National
22 minutes ago
- The National
Timeframe: When Queen Elizabeth bade a fond farewell to the QE2 before it headed to Dubai
This month in 2008, Queen Elizabeth II made a last tour of her namesake cruise liner before its retirement in Dubai to become a floating hotel. The queen, who was 82 at the time, visited the QE2 in the port city of Southampton in the UK, her last tour of the historic ship that she launched 39 years earlier in 1969. Her visit coincided with the 55th anniversary of her accession to the throne after the death of her father, King George VI, in 1952. Dressed in a mauve dress with matching coat and a Philip Somerville hat, the queen was escorted by the last captain of the QE2, Ian McNaught. She also unveiled a painting of the vessel by the artist Robert Lloyd and met four crew members who had served on board when the QE2 was used as a troopship during the Falklands War in 1982. The queen then enjoyed lunch with invited guests. For her farewell meal on the QE2, she was served oak-smoked Scottish salmon with sturgeon caviar followed by medallion of beef tenderloin with dome of bitter chocolate mousse for dessert, the Evening Standard reported. Among the 300 guests who attended the royal send-off was former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher. "The QE2 has been a symbol of all that is best about Britain," said Carol Marlow, then managing director of owners Cunard, said at the event. "It is the most famous ship afloat but all things move on and the vessel will now be going to Dubai where it will be admired by generations to come." The QE2 was officially retired from active service on November 11, 2008, when it left Southampton docks and set sail for its final journey to Dubai. Demand was so great for the journey to the UAE that tickets sold out in only 36 minutes. The QE2 was fully booked for its final journey from the US, with about 1,800 passengers paying fares ranging from $25,445 for a duplex grand suite with a veranda, to $2,992 for a single room. Its crew of 1,016 included 107 cooks, four fitness instructors, a DJ and 10 gentlemen hosts. In Dubai, a flotilla of 60 naval vessels and private boats met the 70,000-tonne ship in the Arabian Gulf as she arrived in her new home on November 26, 2008. They were led by My Dubai, a mega yacht owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai. An Emirates A380 Airbus and a UK Royal Navy helicopter performed a fly-past in honour of the ship's arrival. However, the QE2's new life as a floating hotel would be delayed by the 2008 financial crisis. On April 18, 2018, a new chapter finally began for the world-famous ship. After more than 1,400 voyages and years of rumours about her fate, she opened her doors to a new generation of guests as a floating hotel at Dubai 's Port Rashid. French multinational Accor took over the management in 2022 and announced large-scale upgrades and renovations. There are now 447 rooms and suites available to book, from entry-level cabins to decadent Royal Suites, which have hosted famous faces such as Joan Collins and the late Nelson Mandela. The QE2's origins and adventures, chronicled in books, photos, uniforms and artefacts, are now preserved in the ship's museum called Travellers' Cove.
The National
35 minutes ago
- The National
Money & Me: ‘Raising Dh2 million in funding for my start-up is a milestone'
For Jennifer Cohan Solal, buying a home in Dubai and raising funds for her UAE-based retail start-up are major financial milestones. The French citizen, 37, who lives on Dubai's Palm Jumeirah with her husband and two children, is chief executive and co-founder of Hushday, a premium flash sales platform. The company offers limited-time flash sales from luxury and premium brands in a members-only space for the digital-first generation. In April, it raised more than Dh2 million ($550,000) in pre-seed funding. Launched just this year, Hushday offers members access to sales across fashion, beauty, accessories, electronics, home and leisure products. The company is already considering plans to grow beyond the UAE and expand operations into Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait. 'We're not here to patch a post-Covid inventory issue. We're here to open a new, scalable path for growth for brands who want to reach a younger, price-sensitive, digital audience,' says Ms Solal, who has lived in Dubai for more than two years. 'We found our paradise here as entrepreneurs. There's something very inspiring about the UAE's pace, vision and ambition. It's the best choice we've ever made.' Before moving to the Emirates, Ms Solal worked in fashion and e-commerce sectors for more than 12 years and studied marketing at a French business school. Did wealth feature in your childhood? What did you learn from it? I grew up in a fairly privileged environment. Both my parents were doctors, but nothing was handed to them. They arrived in France from Algeria with nothing, and built their lives through hard work and education. That influenced me the most, seeing first-hand how much it takes to succeed and how deeply independence and resilience are rooted in our family culture. So even though we never lacked anything, my parents always told me to be careful and thoughtful about money, and above all, to rely on myself. That mix of stability and drive has shaped every decision I've made. How did you first earn? My first job was with a start-up when I was 18. I launched a luxury concierge service company in Paris by procuration for a woman who had an amazing idea, but no time to execute it. So, I did everything from A to Z for her and gained more recognition and experience than money. I enjoyed the feeling of autonomy, the sense that if I wanted something, I had the power to go out and make it happen. My first real job was with The Other Store, and my job was to create and manage e-commerce websites for brands. I was 20 years old and got paid €1,000 ($1,154) a month. Any early financial jolts? The biggest financial setback was when I left the corporate world to launch my first start-up, L'Ultime, in Paris. I call it the first digital native vertical brand in pastry. Although the brand gained strong visibility in France, the media attention was incredible and the revenue looked exciting, I quickly learnt the difference between revenue and profit and between brand hype and sustainable growth. So, it was humbling, but also an incredible experience. I met a lot of inspiring people and understood the deeper mechanics of running a business. It made me a stronger and responsible entrepreneur. How do you grow your wealth? I'm in reinvestment mode, so I pour most of my capital into building a long-term vision for Hushday. I have also invested in Dubai real estate. My husband and I purchased a villa on Palm Jumeirah two years ago. We also have property investments in France. Are you a spender or a saver? I'm more of a spender now, but spend consciously. I invest in my business, in quality experiences with my family and in our lifestyle. But I aspire to become more of a saver in the years to come because I want to build a legacy and create a financial foundation that brings freedom, not stress. Have you been wise with money? Yes, I've always been careful with money. I don't take reckless risks such as big spending sprees or flashy purchases, apart from the occasional luxuries I need during sales or beautiful family trips. I've never lived beyond my means. I was raised to be intentional with money and that has stayed with me. Even now as I build my company, I make sure that every dirham I spend serves a purpose and receives a return on investment. What has been your best investment? My best investment was on my own education and self-development, in my children's education and in Dubai. We love this city and feel aligned with its energy and ambition. We are committed to creating something meaningful here for our family and the ecosystem. Any cherished purchases? Yes, everything in our home is a cherished purchase. All items, from the furniture to the decorations, have been chosen with intention. I spent a lot of time and energy to build our home. I love the feeling when people walk in and say it doesn't feel like a house, but a home. Every morning, my husband and I almost cry when we wake up and see the sun and sea in front of us. How do you feel about money? Money is just a consequence, it's not a goal. It gives you freedom, but it doesn't define success. For me, what matters most is creating an impact, leaving a mark and building something lasting. Being the richest person in the cemetery never interested me. I want to do something that lives beyond me and make my children and family proud. Any financial advice for your younger self? Start saving earlier, not out of fear, but to gain freedom. Understand that money buys you time, leverage and peace of mind. Use it to invest in skills, ideas and people who elevate you. Never confuse visibility with value. Also understand that growth is quiet, but compounding is magic. Any key financial milestones? Raising our first round of funding for Hushday was huge, not just because of the capital but the confidence it signalled from people who believe in our vision. Another milestone was buying our home in Dubai before we moved here from Paris. It was a statement of trust in ourselves, in our family and in the life we're choosing to build here. What luxuries are important to you? Spending quality time with family and friends, discovering new places and getting lost in different cultures. When we will eventually be free from work, my husband and I plan to do a world tour. So, it's not always about price, but about the richness of experience and emotions. What are your financial goals? Financial independence is non-negotiable. But right now, my main focus is on creating value and building Hushday into the future leader of premium private sales in the Gulf region. I want to create strong returns for investors and build a brand that resonates across borders.
The National
44 minutes ago
- The National
Gulf Connections: A date with a town called Mecca
The long drive from Downtown Los Angeles begins on Interstate 105 east, then switches to 605 north until Five Points where you take 10 west, finally escaping the suburban sprawl of Greater LA at San Bernardino. From here, arid mountains rise on either side of the motorway until it merges into Highway 86 when the exit is right on to Grapefruit Road. Now, it is just short distance to 4th Street and a roundabout with a blue-tiled welcome sign. After nearly three hours of driving, you have arrived in Mecca. Mecca, California, that is. Not Makkah in Saudi Arabia. But why is a small town in the Coachella Valley, where attractions include Taco Time and Pizza Milano, named after the holiest city in Islam? The answer is all around you. Date trees. Parallel climates Farmers began planting date trees in the Coachella Valley in the 19th century. The climate is hot − rising to 43C in July and August − and the surrounding landscape is mostly desert, with little rainfall except in the winter. Similar to much of the Arabian Peninsula, in other words. The first trees were imported from the Middle East as 'suckers', tiny plants that spring from the base of date palms. They were sourced across the region, including Iraq, Egypt and Algeria. Many did not survive but, in time, large plantations were established, nurtured by the sunshine and water from underground aquifers. In 1911, two brothers from the Popenoe family were dispatched to Oman and Iraq, after first mastering rudimentary Arabic. They returned with enough young plants to fill 17 railway wagons for shipment from the port of Galveston to California and lurid stories, as told in the local newspapers, of warding off attacks by hostile desert tribes. Today it is estimated that around 95 per cent of American dates are grown in the Coachella Valley, with familiar varieties like Medjool and Halawi, which nevertheless sound exotic to the American ear. The miles of date plantations also created a distinct landscape and culture, one that the locals were quick to exploit for the thousands of visitors to the resort city of Palm Springs, barely 20 minutes' drive away. A tourism hub From the 1920s, the date farms of Coachella became an increasingly popular tourist day trip, with attractions like Romance and Sex Life of the Date (actually, a short film on the pollination process) and the date milkshake − using date crystals in a process popularised by Shields Date Garden in 1936 and still going strong. A Middle Eastern theme also began to develop, one based not so much on the reality of life in the region, but more the American Orientalist perspective of Bible stories and stories like Aladdin from Arabian Nights, with their magic carpets and genies. In many ways, the Coachella Valley is a window into American preconceptions about the Arab world. At the annual Riverside County Fair and National Date Festival, the main stage features a backdrop with imagined Arabian architecture complete with minarets. Past performances since 1947 have included camel riders, an 'Arab Marching Band', 'harem dancers' and an annual Queen Scheherazade and Princess Jasmine pageant. Going along with this, the unincorporated community of Walters changed its name over a century ago to Mecca. Today, Mecca California has a population of around 8,200 and has a small claim to fame as the location for Wild Angels, Roger Corman's 1966 biker film which starred Peter Fonda and Nancy Sinatra. The Gulf and Middle East still plays an active role in the Coachella Valley. Arabic words like rutab and khaal, referring to the stages of ripening, have passed into the language of Californian date farmers. There is also an interchange of ideas between Californian and Middle East date growers. Mark Tadros, a second generation farmer whose family originally migrated from Egypt in the 1960s to found Aziz Farms, says he is impressed with some of the new technology for growing and harvesting coming from the Gulf. In 2024, he told Aramco World magazine: 'The date-growing region here wouldn't exist without the date-growing region in the Middle East.'
