The overall contribution of both aviation and tourism related activities to Dubai's economy will rise to a robust $53.1 billion in 2020, said the report “Quantifying the Economic Impact of Aviation in Dubai”, prepared by global research firm Oxford Economics.
The figure will be equivalent to 37.5% of the UAE emirate's GDP, supporting over 754,500 jobs.
Looking further ahead, the total economic impact of aviation on Dubai's economy by 2030 is projected to grow to $88.1 billion and the sector will support 1,194,700 jobs, it said.
The forecast is based on current expansion plans for Dubai International (DXB) and Al Maktoum International at Dubai World Central (DWC), it said.
The aviation sector is expected to grow at a faster rate than the economy as a whole during the 2014-2020 period, on the back of strong growth in international passenger traffic and cargo.
Dubai expects to welcome over 20 million visitors for Expo 2020. Projects to support the six-month mega event in Dubai are already under way. This includes a sizable increase in airport capacity which encompasses expansion of airspace, airfield, stands and terminal areas to allow Dubai International to accommodate 60% more aircraft stands by 2015, and service 90 million passengers by 2018.
