Dubai aviation to earn $44.5 billion

Dubai's aviation sector is expected to rise to $44.5 billion or 32 percent of the gross domestic product by 2020, from the current $22 billion. Paul Griffiths, Dubai Airports Chief Executive Officer said, “By 2020, aviation will support 373,000 jobs or 22 percent of the total employment in Dubai, traffic capacity constraints, however, pose the biggest threat to aviation growth.” Shaikh Ahmad Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates airline and Group, said, "Aviation is one of the main engines driving Dubai's emergence as a global centre for trade, commerce and tourism.” Oxford Economics, a research firm said in its recent report titled 'Explaining Dubai's Aviation Model' that the economic contribution by the aviation sector currently supports 250,000 jobs or about 19 percent of Dubai's employment. Commissioned by Emirates airline and Dubai Airports, the study titled Explaining Dubai's Aviation Model highlights Dubai as "consensus-based, highly competitive and consumer-centric", generating significant economic benefits for the emirate and the countries it connects.