Pictures of Dubai international airport in its early days in 1960 show a small, single terminal building next to a basic aircraft, with a few battered Land Rovers parked near the runway in a desolate landscape. From those humble beginnings, DXB – as it is fondly referred to by regular travellers – has grown to be not just the world’s busiest international airport but a showcase of the UAE’s embrace of technology and innovation.
In December last year, it welcomed its billionth passenger. This year, it remains the world's busiest hub for international jetsetters. The airport processed 41.1 million passengers in the first six months of the year, compared to the 38.8 million passing through Heathrow in London and 37.8 million transiting through third-placed Hong Kong. In a measure of the UAE's openness to the world, diverse destinations such as India, Saudi Arabia and Britain were the top three countries for arriving passengers, amounting to 28 per cent of traffic.
Key to maintaining the airport's position has been its constant development to make passengers' lives hassle-free, which would not have happened without a forward-thinking strategy from its management. Last year the airport was one of the first to implement face-scanning technology, with the aim of eventually dispensing with the need for physical documents. Plans are underway to integrate solar-powered and self-driving cars into ground transportation and Emirates airline chief Tim Clark envisions innovative measures in the near future, with robots handing passengers their baggage.
Airports can often give the impression of being shackled by bureaucracy and endless queues and generally being unwelcoming places, particularly to long-distance travellers. Dubai's airport has done much to dispel that fusty image. But a state-of-the art airport would not have been possible without the inherent openness of the Dubai model, dating back to its history as a trading hub, first by sea and camel and now by air, thanks to investments in infrastructure. That tiny airport in 1960 was a precursor of today's model of a futuristic transit hub, which gives a taster of the modern city beyond.
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
David Haye record
Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4
THE SPECS
Engine: 1.6-litre turbo
Transmission: six-speed automatic
Power: 165hp
Torque: 240Nm
Price: From Dh89,000 (Enjoy), Dh99,900 (Innovation)
On sale: Now
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Brief scoreline:
Manchester United 0
Manchester City 2
Bernardo Silva 54', Sane 66'
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
Low turnout
Two months before the first round on April 10, the appetite of voters for the election is low.
Mathieu Gallard, account manager with Ipsos, which conducted the most recent poll, said current forecasts suggested only two-thirds were "very likely" to vote in the first round, compared with a 78 per cent turnout in the 2017 presidential elections.
"It depends on how interesting the campaign is on their main concerns," he told The National. "Just now, it's hard to say who, between Macron and the candidates of the right, would be most affected by a low turnout."
Cases of coronavirus in the GCC as of March 15
Saudi Arabia – 103 infected, 0 dead, 1 recovered
UAE – 86 infected, 0 dead, 23 recovered
Bahrain – 210 infected, 0 dead, 44 recovered
Kuwait – 104 infected, 0 dead, 5 recovered
Qatar – 337 infected, 0 dead, 4 recovered
Oman – 19 infected, 0 dead, 9 recovered
The biog
Age: 35
Inspiration: Wife and kids
Favourite book: Changes all the time but my new favourite is Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
Best Travel Destination: Bora Bora , French Polynesia
Favourite run: Jabel Hafeet, I also enjoy running the 30km loop in Al Wathba cycling track
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA