Dubai airports has one of its busiest days as hundreds of thousands return after Eid break

Lengthy queues were reported at Dubai International Airport at the weekend, as a rush of travellers returned to the UAE after the long Eid Al Fitr break.

Footage showed hundreds of people waiting in line for taxis in the early hours of Sunday.

Barriers were set up at the arrivals section of a terminal to guide thousands of people through the exits as quickly as possible.

Airport officials had said that Saturday, May 7 would be the busiest day. Government departments, schools and some private sector companies all reopen on Monday.

Sneha Singh, a marketing executive in Dubai, was returning from a trip to Croatia and arrived at Terminal 3 on Sunday at 1am.

“I have been a Dubai resident for six years and have travelled during every Eid break, but I have never seen the queue for taxis quite as big as that," she said.

“Like me, many other returning travellers couldn’t believe the scenes that greeted us in the arrivals hall.

“I must say though, the airport officials managed the crowds and the situation very well.”

Last week, Dubai Airports said it was expecting one of its busiest travel periods over the Eid break and urged travellers to plan their time accordingly.

It said more than 1.9 million passengers were expected to fly to or from Dubai International Airport between April 28 and May 9, with the busiest day expected on May 7, when more than 200,000 people were expected to transit the airport.

On May 9, the northern runway at Dubai International Airport will close for a 45-day refurbishment project.

During this time, several flights that typically fly into the airport will instead operate from Dubai World Central, including those operated by Flydubai, Spice Jet, Indigo, Gulf Air and others.

Families enjoy Eid Al Fitr break — in pictures

Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill

Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.