Dubai’s aviation sector is set to generate 185,000 new jobs by 2030, bringing the total number of aviation-related positions to 816,000, according to a report released by Emirates Group and Dubai Airports on Thursday. The study, conducted by global research firm Oxford Economics, emphasizes the sector’s significant role in the emirate’s economy.
As of the end of 2023, approximately 631,000 people were employed in aviation-related roles, accounting for one in five jobs in Dubai. This figure is expected to rise to one in four by 2030. The aviation sector currently supports 303,000 core jobs, alongside 329,000 jobs linked to tourism facilitated by aviation.
The report highlights that the core impact of Dubai’s aviation industry includes 103,000 direct jobs and an additional 200,000 positions supported by supply chain spending and employee wage-funded consumption. In 2023, these direct employees earned a total of Dh23 billion in wages.
Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, noted, “Our growth plans will generate even more skilled jobs.” The sector has rebounded strongly since the COVID-19 pandemic, with Dubai-based airlines like Emirates and flydubai significantly expanding their workforces as they resumed and added new routes.
One major contributor to job growth will be the upcoming Al Maktoum International Airport, projected to be the world’s largest airport upon full operational capacity. While its construction is not included in the main impact results, it is expected to contribute an estimated Dh6.1 billion to Dubai’s GDP by 2030, generating 132,000 jobs, or 3.7% of the city’s total employment that year.
The new Dh128 billion airport will be five times the size of Dubai International Airport (DXB) and is set to accommodate over 400 aircraft stands, with a capacity to serve 260 million passengers annually. Sheikh Ahmed emphasized that the expansion of Dubai World Central will unlock additional economic opportunities and support the rising demand for air transport.
The study also indicated that Emirates Airline and Dubai Airports, along with other aviation entities, are projected to create nearly 24,000 direct jobs by 2030. The number of direct employees at Emirates is expected to grow from 81,000 in 2023 to 104,000 by 2030, while Dubai Airports is projected to increase its workforce from 21,000 to 23,000.
Overall, Emirates is expected to support 413,000 jobs in Dubai, translating to one in every eight jobs in the emirate. Meanwhile, Dubai Airports and related entities will support 87,000 jobs by 2030, up from 67,000 in 2023, reflecting the robust growth and impact of the aviation sector on Dubai’s economy.