Dubai Airports celebrates the partnerships behind DXB’s success

Dubai Airports brought its airline and commercial partners together at Spirit of Excellence on 29 October to recognise their collective contribution to Dubai International’s (DXB) global connectivity and seamless guest experience.

Held at Atlantis The Royal, the gathering celebrated the shared effort behind DXB’s success. From airline and ground services to retail, dining, hospitality and transport, partners across the airport contribute to one connected guest journey, keeping Dubai connected to the world and extending the city’s welcome through its airport.

That partnership was particularly important through a challenging year. Faced with changing operating conditions and airspace restrictions, airlines adapted schedules and supported disrupted journeys, while commercial partners maintained services amid unpredictable footfall. Together, they helped keep Dubai connected while caring for its guests.

Eugene Barry, Chief Commercial Officer of Dubai Airports, said: “Confidence is contagious, and this year our partners and teams showed how much it matters. By maintaining high standards and offering the reassurance of familiar levels of service and hospitality across all our commercial touchpoints, our partners helped guests and colleagues navigate uncertainty and build a new platform for regrowth. We operate very different and diverse businesses, but together we all shape the experience and character of DXB. That shared responsibility gives our partnerships a purpose beyond the commercial relationship and makes every partner’s success part of our own.”

DXB has welcomed 31.5 million guests in the first half of 2026 and remains on track to exceed 70 million by year-end. The progress reflects the commitment of airline partners to rebuilding capacity and connectivity, supported by extensive coordination across the airport.

Robert Whitehouse, Vice President of Research at Dubai Airports, said: “Committing aircraft, crews and resources in a challenging global environment is a significant decision. Our airline partners backed those decisions with exceptional collaboration. Schedule coordination, normally undertaken once a season, had to be repeated as conditions changed. Their networks connect Dubai with individual markets and, together, support the hub’s wider reach. We are grateful for that commitment and will continue working closely with every airline to support the opportunities ahead.”

The evening also featured a fireside conversation between His Excellency Issam Kazim, CEO of the Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing, and Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, on Dubai’s tourism and aviation outlook.

Dubai Airports continues to invest in terminal facilities and process improvements at DXB to improve guest flow and make journeys more intuitive. Making better use of existing capacity, these enhancements help deliver a more seamless guest experience and support partners in meeting changing expectations.

Each partner received a scale model of DXB’s iconic air traffic control tower, recognising their contribution to the airport’s shared success. The presentations brought together airline and ground service partners alongside businesses providing retail, dining, hospitality, transport and other commercial services.

The evening also looked ahead to Dubai’s busy winter season, with its calendar of international business, sporting and entertainment events attracting visitors from around the world. The focus was on a strong finish to 2026 and the opportunities of 2027, with airport and city partners working together to welcome guests and support Dubai’s continued success.