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10/17/24, 9:45 AM Newspaper | Megazine | Blog | Aviation sector shines with positive growth indicators on 'UAE Civil Aviation Day'

Aviation sector shines with positive growth indicators on
'UAE Civil Aviation Day'

1 week ago Source: WAM 52

The UAE's aviation sector today celebrated the “UAE Civil Aviation Day”, which falls on 5th October each year, marking
the anniversary of the first airplane landing in the UAE, specifically in the Emirate of Sharjah, on the same day in 1932.
The runway for the airplane landing was prepared in the Al Qasimia area of Sharjah in 1930, making it the first airport
established in the Arabian Gulf region at that time.

Over 90 years later, the UAE's civil aviation sector leads numerous global competitiveness indicators, surpassing many
developed nations. The country boasts six national carriers renowned for luxury, quality, security, and safety. During the
first eight months of this year, our national carriers operated 4,807 weekly flights to numerous destinations around the
world.

In addition, the UAE has 10 airports, including 8 international airports ranked among the best and busiest in the world.
These airports welcomed more than 97.9 million passengers in the first eight months of this year, reflecting a growth
rate of 12.6 percent, compared to 86.9 million passengers during the same period last year.

Abdullah Bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the GCAA, said: "UAE Civil
Aviation Day represents an opportunity to celebrate the vision of our wise leadership, which has positioned the UAE at
the forefront of the world in the aviation sector. This sector today serves as a fundamental pillar of national economic
growth and enhances its competitiveness regionally and internationally. Additionally, this vital sector has played a key
role in establishing the UAE as a bridge for connecting with global markets.

The UAE is globally recognised for the rapid growth of its aviation infrastructure, which accounted for less than 1
percent of the GDP at the founding of the country in 1971, while today the sector contributes up to 13.3 percent of the
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