Dubai plans Airport Express train linking DXB and Al Maktoum

Dubai plans to build a train line to streamline travel between Dubai International Airport and its growing air hub at Al Maktoum 55 kilometers (34 miles) away.

The new Airport Express will be part of the Dubai Metro and include five stations, providing services such as remote check-in, baggage drop-off, and security screening.

Dubai International Airport (DXB), currently handles most passenger traffic, while Dubai World Central-Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) is being expanded in stages to eventually take over as the emirate’s primary airport.

The train is planned to start at the Dubai Metro’s Red Line station at DXB, pass through Al Jaddaf and Jumeirah Village Circle, and end at DWC, with additional spur lines linking to Emirates Golf Club and Business Bay.

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority has invited consultants to bid on designing the proposed airport shuttle by June.

UAE imposes entry ban on Iranians – but with exceptions

The UAE has issued an advisory banning Iranian nationals from entering or transiting through the country, with a few exceptions.

The restrictions come amid heightened tensions from the Iran war, with airlines and travel advisories adjusting policies rapidly.

Emirates airline said that those who have a Golden Visa, are married to UAE nationals or born to an Emirati woman will be allowed in, as well as athletes, bank executives, doctors, families, engineers, investors, senior professionals or traders.

The UAE, a key global aviation hub, serves as a major transit point for international travelers, meaning that restrictions on certain nationalities can ripple across regional travel and airline operations.

Travelers are urged to review the latest entry requirements before booking or flying, as rules may change rapidly due to regional developments, the airline said. 

Airline execs descend on Dubai for IATA annual meeting

Over 1,500 airline executives will descend on Dubai, the world’s busiest international travel hub, this weekend, for the annual meeting of the International Air Transport Association.

The industry trade organization, which represents more than 300 airlines and over 80% of global air traffic, expects to grapple with airline chiefs’ biggest challenges over the three-day gathering.

At the top of the agenda are aircraft shortages, geopolitical tensions and carbon reduction strategies as declining airfares spell out a muted outlook for carriers.

The 80th IATA Annual General Meeting and World Air Transport Summit, hosted by Emirates Airline, will run from Sunday, June 2 through Tuesday, June 4, and is for the first time taking place in the UAE.

Expected to attend are CEOs including Vanessa Hudson of Qantas; Tim Clark of Emirates Airline; Scott Kirby, of United Airlines and Shai Weiss of Virgin Atlantic Airways.

Aviation is a linchpin of Dubai’s economic ambitions: the industry contributed 27% to the emirate’s GDP and supported $37 billion in gross value added in 2023.

That is projected to increase to $53 billion in 2030, in line with Dubai’s growth forecast, according to Oxford Economics.