Dubai’s Aviation Sector to Create 185,000 New Jobs by 2030, Boosting Employment to Over 800,000

Dubai’s aviation industry is expected to generate 185,000 new jobs by 2030, increasing the total workforce in aviation-related sectors to 816,000, according to a report released by Emirates Group and Dubai Airports. The report, compiled by Oxford Economics, highlights that by the end of 2023, around 631,000 people were employed in aviation-linked roles, accounting for one in five jobs in Dubai. This figure is expected to rise to one in four by 2030.

The breakdown includes 303,000 jobs driven by the sector's core economic activities and another 329,000 jobs supported by tourism facilitated by aviation. The core sector alone supports 103,000 direct jobs and 200,000 more through supply chain activities and consumption by employees, with these direct employees earning a collective Dh23 billion in 2023.

Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chairman and chief executive of Emirates Airline and Group, noted that the sector’s growth would create more skilled jobs, as Dubai's aviation industry has seen a strong recovery post-pandemic. Both Emirates and flydubai have expanded their workforces significantly as they introduced new routes.

A major contributor to future growth will be Al Maktoum International Airport, which is projected to generate 132,000 jobs by 2030. Although not factored into the report’s main figures, the airport’s expansion will contribute Dh6.1 billion to Dubai’s GDP in 2030 and account for 3.7% of the city’s employment.

The report also projects that Emirates Airline, Dubai Airports, and other aviation entities will create nearly 24,000 direct new jobs by 2030. Emirates, which employed 81,000 people in 2023, is expected to expand its workforce to 104,000 by 2030. Similarly, Dubai Airports and related entities, which employed 21,000 in 2023, are set to employ 23,000 by 2030.

Emirates’ overall job support, including indirect roles, will rise from 413,000 jobs in 2023 to 516,000 by 2030. Dubai Airports and other aviation-related companies will see the jobs they support rise from 396,000 in 2023 to 516,000 by 2030.

News Source: Khaleej Times