Traffic at Dubai airport in the United Arab Emirates increased by 50% in the first half of the year, surpassing levels prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, the operator said today.

From January to June, the international airport, one of the busiest in the world, welcomed 41.6 million passengers, compared to 27.9 million in the same period last year.

"Traffic in the first half of the year exceeded pre-pandemic levels," said Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths, as quoted by Notícias ao Minuto.

The authorities, also quoted by the same source, have revised their forecasts for the year upwards, estimating that it will reach 85 million passengers, compared to just over 66 million in 2022 and 86 million in 2019.

"Dubai Airports is optimistic about demand levels and expects record numbers during the winter season," the company said in a statement.

Dubai Airport closed at the height of the pandemic, from March to July 2020, but was one of the first to reopen.

The infrastructure received 25.9 million passengers in 2020 and 29.1 million the following year.