Dubai World Central's Al Maktoum airport has recorded a 35% increase in passenger numbers in the first half of the year.

The figure rose to nearly 555,000 despite an 11% fall in the number of aircraft movements, according to operatorDubai Airports.

Dubai Airportsadds that the second-quarter passenger count amounted to a 45% increase. Al Maktoum is served by eight passenger airlines.

Dubai's main hub,Dubai International, handled just over 43 million passengers in the first half, a rise of 6.3% – much smaller in percentage terms but equating to more than four times the entire number at Al Maktoum.

Flight movements atDubai Internationalalso fell, by almost 1%, to just under 206,000.