In a sign of economic recovery in Dubai, DC Aviation Al-Futtaim (DCAF), a business aviation company with its own FBO and hangar facility, has recorded a 25 per cent increase in private and business jet activity in the first quarter of this year.

From its fully integrated facility at Al Maktoum International airport in Dubai South, DCAF saw an increased number of VVIP guests arriving from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), Europe, India and Pakistan among others. The company also saw increased visitors from Israel following the signing of the Abraham Accords agreement to open diplomatic, trade and economic relations between the UAE and Israel.

MD Holger Ostheimer says: “The UAE has firmly established itself on the world stage with the positive steps it has taken to battle the COVID-19 pandemic. The increase in flight movements is the result of the increased confidence in the UAE government's vaccination programme, tourism-related initiatives and other economic stimulus measures taken to boost consumer and business sentiment. We have seen this increased number even into Ramadan, which is generally a quiet period, and we expect this trend to continue for the remainder of the year.”

The uptick in private and business jet activity has also seen increased business across other areas of DCAF's business including charter, ground handling and MRO.