Dubai Airports has brought together its airline and commercial partners to recognise their contribution to Dubai International (DXB)'s global connectivity and guest experience at its annual Spirit of Excellence event, held at Atlantis The Royal on October 29 .
The gathering
celebrated the collective efforts of businesses operating across the airport,
including airlines, ground services, retail, dining, hospitality and transport,
highlighting their role in delivering a seamless passenger journey and
connecting Dubai with destinations worldwide.
The recognition comes
after a challenging year marked by changing operating conditions and airspace
restrictions. Airlines adapted schedules and supported affected passengers,
while commercial partners maintained services despite unpredictable passenger flows.
Their combined efforts helped sustain airport operations and maintain service
standards during periods of uncertainty.
Eugene Barry, Chief
Commercial Officer of Dubai Airports, said: “Confidence is contagious, and this
year our partners and teams showed how much it matters. By maintaining high
standards and offering the reassurance of familiar levels of service and hospitality
across all our commercial touchpoints, our partners helped guests and
colleagues navigate uncertainty and build a new platform for regrowth. We
operate very different and diverse businesses, but together we all shape the
experience and character of DXB. That shared responsibility gives our
partnerships a purpose beyond the commercial relationship and makes every
partner’s success part of our own.”
DXB welcomed 31.5
million guests during the first half of 2026 and remains on track to exceed 70
million by the end of the year. The performance reflects the commitment of
airline partners to restoring capacity and connectivity, supported by
coordination across the airport.
Robert Whitehouse,
Vice President of Research at Dubai Airports, said: “Committing aircraft, crews
and resources in a challenging global environment is a significant decision.
Our airline partners backed those decisions with exceptional collaboration. Schedule
coordination, normally undertaken once a season, had to be repeated as
conditions changed. Their networks connect Dubai with individual markets and,
together, support the hub’s wider reach. We are grateful for that commitment
and will continue working closely with every airline to support the
opportunities ahead.”
Supporting growth
and improving passenger journeys
The event also
featured a fireside discussion between His Excellency Issam Kazim, CEO of the
Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing, and Paul Griffiths, CEO
of Dubai Airports, focusing on the outlook for Dubai's tourism and aviation
sectors.
Dubai Airports
continues to invest in terminal facilities and operational improvements at DXB,
with a focus on improving passenger flows and making journeys more intuitive.
The enhancements aim to maximise existing airport capacity while delivering a
more seamless experience and helping partners respond to evolving passenger
expectations.
As part of the
celebrations, each partner received a scale model of DXB's iconic air traffic
control tower in recognition of its contribution to the airport's collective
success. Recipients included airline and ground services operators, as well as
companies providing retail, dining, hospitality, transport and other commercial
services.
Looking ahead to
winter 2026
The gathering also
looked ahead to Dubai's busy winter season, with an international calendar of
business, sporting and entertainment events expected to attract visitors from
around the world.
With a focus on finishing 2026 strongly and capitalising on opportunities in 2027, Dubai Airports and its partners will continue working together to support connectivity, passenger services and the city's position as a leading global aviation and tourism hub. -TradeArabia News Service
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