Emirates expects to serve “high passenger volumes” passing through Dubai International Airport (DXB) the upcoming weekend. The airline forecasts that between July 16 and July 17, 2021, traveler numbers will reach the “highest levels since the beginning of pandemic”, and warns flyers about longer than expected waiting times at  DXB airport.

The Dubai-based air carrier expects a sizable number of the United Arab Emirates residents will be heading for their first proper summer break since 2019, as the state will be having public sector holidays Arafat Day and Eid Al Adha between July 19 and July 22, 2021. 

“With added safety measures and COVID-19 travel requirement checks in place, travelers may encounter longer than expected waiting times at Emirates check-in counters,” Emirates warned its passengers in the statement. To ensure a smooth journey, travelers are requested to complete their check-in no later than 3 hours before departure, the airline warned. 

“[Travelers] who present themselves less than 60 minutes prior to their scheduled flight departure will not be accepted for travel,”  the company added.

Emirates had already recorded the increased passenger traffic twice in July 2021. At the beginning of the month, between July 2 and July 3, as well as between July 9 and July 10, the air carrier carried around 450,000 passengers at DXB airport. 100,000 travelers arrived in the state for the summer holidays via over 1,600 Emirates flights.

The forecasted upcoming spike of passenger numbers complies with the airport’s previously announced goal of reaching 28 million passengers within 2021. Speaking to the media on June 22, 2021, Dubai Airports Chief Executive Paul Griffiths hinted that DXB airport could serve about 28 million people in 2021 or even reach 40 million “if it was lucky.”