Dubai International Airport .... Where the world connects
Most people comment ’’You are living in a country with Arabs and you are getting respect? impossible! ’’
Well, if you are not getting respect in a country and don’t like it there and don’t appreciate it there......... go back to your own country, no one’s stopped you’’
With Muslims and Arabs having a negative image after 9/11, come to Dubai......... it’s totally a different planet (not even country)
With some 150 odd nationalities living in Dubai and so you will not have any language problems as staff of all nationalities are there, only Police and Immigration officials are Arabs but many of them can speak English/ Arabic and Hindi !
Dubai International is truly an world class airport. The architecture makes Dubai International a superb gateway.With a state-of-the-art terminal design. At times it looks more like a Mall than an airport.
It’s unique construction makes it very accessible and modern facilities make me believe it’s worth winning all those awards. Most western airports could improve their services by taking a peek at this airport. Of course ’’one mans meat is another man’s poison’’ there are complaints, friends claim of rude airport staff (that i’ve never encountered), may I suggest trying Schiphol? You’ll see a new side to Rudeness and unprofessionalism.
Try JFK and ask someone for directions.
FIGURES
Dubai International Airport at present has the capacity to handle 22 million passengers annually.
The Department of Civil Aviation is really one of the best in the world, it is a priority to maintain the high standards of service. Visualizing the customer demands in the coming years, the Department of Civil Aviation commenced the 2nd phase of Dubai International Airport expansion last year. The US$ 4.1 bn expansion programme includes the construction of Terminal 3, concourse 2 and concourse 3, all of which will be exclusive to Emirates airlines, a Mega Cargo Terminal and a major upgrade of Terminal 2. With the completion of the 2nd phase Dubai International Airport will have the capacity to handle 70 million passengers a year. In the year 2003, 18 million passengers passed through Dubai while 21 million are expected this year. According to forecasts, 60 million passengers are expected by the year 2010.
AWARDS
Dubai International Airport has received 36 international awards to date.
Dubai International Airport emerged as the Best Airport Worldwide in the AETRA survey conducted by IATA and ACI.
Voted Dubai International Airport the Best in the World for the 22nd OAG Awards
DUBAI DUTY FREE
Recently Nestle gave an award to Dubai Duty Free for the highest kit kat sales in the world, 9000 bars roughly in a day ! (In a twelve month period, Dubai Duty Free sold over 3, 341, 250 million Kit Kat four finger bars.)
Dubai duty free raffle sells tickets for AED 100 (USD 278) where you can win Ferrari/Porsche / Rolls Royce or a million Dirhams ( USD 275, 000 roughly).
Changed the luck of thousands of people over the years !
DDF sells anything from Chocolates to Mp3 players and Mobiles to Gold. Gold & electronics is really cheap ’coz there’s no TAX in this country.
Dubai Duty Free reached Dhs1 billion - for such a small country- wow !
E-Gate
E-Gate is an electronic gate ( I had built an Exhibition stand for this on it’s launch.) for which you do not have to stand in a queue- all your passport details are entered
in the card which the machines reads data from and requires your Thumb scan also.This is available to purchase or FREE with some Banks when you open and account.
Recently on my trip to Europe I used my E-gate card, it took me 5 seconds to get through immigration !!
FACILITIES:
Dubai now has an E-Gate card for residents of the UAE to skip the long queues at Immigration.
Centrally airconditioned from the entrance to the rest rooms till you board your aircraft.
Spotlessly clean you could practically eat off the floor (but please don’t !!)
VIP area
New Gym for Transit visitors
Internet access
Valet parking introduced at Dubai International Airport at Arrivals; Departures will soon have the facility as well
Marhaba lounge (Marhaba in Arabic means welcome)
When you exit, a line of international and local Rent-a-cars, hotels, Tourism and exchange centers are available.
If you are travelling you will find special Departures area and a separate section/ entrance for Emirates Airlines where you don’t get stuck in the rush of the airport.
The First Class lounge is extremely cosy and well equipped and had an excellent range of food and drink available for all times of the day.
I’ve not really seen an airport with as many comfortable chairs.
One of the world’s best Security - why do you think there’s no Drugs/guns in this country ?
As renovations are going on, it is difficult to park and it is extremely busy outside, but aren’t airports meant to be busy ?
If you have relatives coming you may go to the mezzanine floor and wait at the coffee shops from where you have a view of passengers making their way to the Immigration and picking up their luggage.
In the departures for the general public there is a large food court having outlets such as Baskin Robbins and Costa Coffee to name a few.
The passengers inside the terminals can choose between StarBucks, Costa Coffee, Mc Donalds and with the new Terminal coming up there will be more.
Many airports are known for their staff stealing (India and Pak in particular even with locks on), a good solution for this is a Plastic sheet wrapping done to your luggage like you would wrap expensive China, this also protects your baggage from the scratches from rough handling and loading.
Figures taken from https://dubaiairport.com
Dubai Duty Free: https://dubaidutyfree.com
Egate info: https://dnrd.gov.ae/dnrd/E-Services/E-Gate/Default.htm
https://bti-uae.com/egate