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On tariffs, Paul Griffiths says the situation is volatile

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Dubai International to handle 96 million passengers in

2025

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Griffiths predicts China as major aircraft manufacturer

By Jana Choukeir

DUBAI, April 30 (Reuters) - U.S. tariffs have increased

volatility in international tourism, but visitor numbers to the

Middle East have held up, buoyed by the gradual return of

Chinese tourists following the pandemic, Dubai Airports Chief

Executive told Reuters on Wednesday.

Paul Griffiths, who runs Dubai International Airport

connecting Asia and the West, one of the world's busiest, said

it was difficult to assess the impact of the new U.S. tariffs.

"I mean, we haven't really seen any negative impact of it so

far, but I think you know that it's a very volatile situation."

Trump's implementation of sweeping tariffs, including a 10%

baseline on all imports and significantly higher rates on China,

the world's second-largest economy, has sparked a trade war that

is straining the global economy.

Griffiths said there were no significant fluctuations in

passenger volumes across key markets, but there were shifts in

demand, specifically from the United States.

"What we are seeing, of course, is a gradual strength in

recovery of the Chinese market which has been quite welcomed,"

Griffiths said.

Dubai International Airport is forecast to handle 96 million

passengers by the end of 2025, he said.

The airport, known as DXB, welcomed 23.4 million passengers

in Q1 this year, up 1.5% compared to the same period last year,

it said on Wednesday.

Griffiths also said he saw China becoming a major player in

plane production, as it entered a jet delivery standoff with

U.S. Boeing ( BA ), which drew new criticism of Beijing from U.S.

President Donald Trump.

"I'm hearing a lot of confidence around the Chinese

manufacturing of planes and what they could do in the future,"

Griffiths told Reuters in an interview on the sidelines of the

Arabian travel market fair held in Dubai.

"That would be interesting to have a third competitor in the

market to Boeing ( BA ) and Airbus."

Dubai-based Emirates, the Middle East's biggest airline, is

one of the largest customers of Boeing ( BA ) and Airbus.

($1 = 3.6729 UAE dirham)