DUBAI- Emirates Airline (EK) has transported more than 90 million passengers between Dubai (DXB) and India since beginning operations in 1985. This significant milestone emerged during Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s first official visit to India, which concluded on Wednesday, April 9, 2025.
Sheikh Hamdan serves as Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence of the UAE, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai.
Photo- Aeroprints.com; Wikimedia CommonsEmirates Served 90 Million Passengers
Emirates (EK) now operates 167 weekly flights connecting Dubai (DXB) to 9 Indian cities, according to the Government of Dubai Media Office.
As per the Emirates (EK) Website, these 9 Indian Cities are- Ahmedabad (AMD), Bengaluru (BLR), Chennai (MAA), Delhi (DEL), Hyderabad (HYD), Kochi (COK), Kolkata (CCU), Mumbai (BOM) and Thiruvananthapuram (TRV).
This extensive service highlights the growing importance of the India-Dubai air corridor, with Emirates playing a central role in strengthening connections between both countries.
Photo-HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum (X)
Executive Remarks
Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, who holds multiple leadership positions, including President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman of Dubai Airports, and Chairman and CEO of Emirates Airline (EK) and Group, accompanied Sheikh Hamdan during his official India visit. He emphasized the airline’s enduring relationship with India on the social media platform X.
“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.”
Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, CEO, Emirates
He 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.”
It was an honour to accompany His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum during his visit to the Republic of India.
Our discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and senior Indian officials reaffirmed the deep ties between the UAE and India, built on decades of… pic.twitter.com/Y8fsoFIbVF
— HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum (@HHAhmedBinSaeed) April 9, 2025
Growing Travel Demand
The demand for travel between Dubai (DXB) and India continues to increase. The Dubai Media Office reports that 6 major carriers now operate 538 weekly flights connecting Dubai (DXB) to 23 key Indian destinations.
These numbers show how the aviation partnership between Dubai and India has developed into one of the world’s busiest and most important air corridors.
India maintains its position as Dubai International Airport’s (DXB) largest destination market. Of the 92.3 million total passengers traveling through DXB in 2024, 12 million journeyed between Dubai and India. Further, it demonstrates the consistent popularity of air travel between these nations, driven by their strong economic, cultural, and tourism connections.
Photo: Dubai International AirportTourism Impact
As tourism flourished, Dubai welcomed a record 3.14 million visitors from South Asia in 2024, with India providing the largest portion of these arrivals, according to the Dubai Media Office.
The ongoing expansion of Dubai’s aviation network will likely further strengthen trade, tourism, and business relationships between the UAE and India. It will also improve travel options for millions of passengers, reinforcing Dubai’s status as a global aviation hub.
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