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Dubai airport voted `Best in the World'

DUBAI - Subscribers of Official Airline Guide (OAG) print and electronic products - which includes a worldwide audience of business travellers - have voted Dubai International Airport the Best in the World for the 22nd OAG Awards.

The award was presented in London at a gala event.

Votes for the 17 regional and global award categories were polled from OAG's customer base of business travellers and the results were determined based on their personal experience.

The OAG Awards celebrates the very best in global air travel and publicly recognise the highest standards within the industry. Dubai International Airport came in first in the closely contested airport category, followed by Hartsfield, Atlanta and Changi Singapore.

Shaikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Department of Civil Aviation, and Chairman of Emirates, commented, "We are proud and thankful that once again our customers have recognised Dubai International Airport as the best in world. For us, this is the best motivation to ensure that we continue in our efforts to provide the highest standards of service. Dubai International Airport has long been recognised as a premier airport in the Middle East and now it is for the 10th time that it is being recognised as the one of the best in the world as well."

Earlier, Dubai International Airport emerged as the Best Airport Worldwide in the AETRA survey conducted by IATA and ACI. With international recognition being the goal of every organisation, contests have assumed keener dimensions and higher competitive standards in the recent years. With more and more readers voting for Dubai International Airport best in the world and region, the verdict clearly illustrates how the airport has successfully delivered the products and services demanded by frequent business travellers. Dubai International Airport has received 36 international awards to date.

Keeping in mind the mission statement of the Department of Civil Aviation to be the best in the world, it is a priority to maintain the high standards of service that is now customary at Dubai International Airport. Visualising the customer demands in the coming years, the Department of Civil Aviation commenced the 2nd phase of Dubai International Airport expansion last year.

The $4.1 billion expansion programme includes the construction of Terminal 3, concourse 2 and concourse 3, all of which will be exclusive to Emirates airline, a Mega Cargo Terminal and a major upgrade of Terminal 2. With the completion of the second phase, Dubai International Airport will have the capacity to handle 70 million passengers a year.

In the year 2003, 18 million passengers passed through Dubai while 21 million are expected this year. According to forecasts, 60 million passengers are expected by the year 2010.