The airport welcomed 50.98 million passengers in total last year - up eight per cent on the 47.2 million it saw in 2010.

However, cargo volumes at the airport were down 1.5 per cent to 2.19 million tonnes last year, compared to the 2.22 million tonnes recorded in 2010 - something the airport’s operator Dubai Airports put down to economic turmoil in Europe and the US. The increased passenger traffic came as the airport added 28 new destinations - but 17 existing routes were discontinued over the course of the year.

The most significant growth in passenger numbers was on routes to Eastern Europe, up an impressive 81 per cent in a year. Russia and former Soviet states saw traffic increase by more than 30 per cent and North America attracted an extra 16.1 per cent. The Airports Council International last year ranked Dubai as the world’s fifth busiest airport for international flyers.

“Recording 51 million passengers speaks volumes of the momentum building at one of the world’s fastest growing international hubs,” said Dubai Airports’ Paul Griffiths.

Well-known British TV presenter Piers Morgan had travelled to Dubai earlier and visited almost every place in the city of more than 2 million people, met businessmen and many others before coming to the conclusion that the city would hot have reached that distinct status without the efforts of late Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum and his son Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice-President and Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai.

“They don’t want to be number two but No. 1,” Morgan said at the end of the documentary that highlighted Burj Khalifa, Burj Al Arab hotel and many other monuments and hot spots in the bustling city.

“They want to place Dubai on top of the world map… this is part of the vision of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid,” he added.

The air-conditioned tunnel will use five moving walkways to transport passengers from the metro station to Downtown Dubai and then on to the mall, and is slated for completion in 2013.

At peak capacity, the travellators will be able to carry 13,500 people per hour, the company said. The value of the project was not disclosed.

“The Dubai Mall is one of the most visited tourist, retail, and leisure destinations in the world,” Mohamed Alabbar, chairman of Emaar Properties, said in an emailed statement.