In what is said to be the highest monthly growth rate that the Dubai International Airport has seen in almost two years, the airport witnessed a sharp 19.5% rise in passenger traffic in the month of September this year.

According to the airport operator, the country has benefitted from increased tourist numbers due to Ramadan. In the month of September alone, the country's international airport handled a total of 3.2 million passengers, which is much more than the 2.7 million visitors received during the corresponding period last year, Dubai Airports Co said in a statement.

Reports and authorities confirm that 30.1 million passengers passed through the airport this year in September, which is 7.9% more than the 27.8 million visitors seen during the year-earlier period.

The airport operator is optimistic and shares that authorities are expecting Dubai to sustain this growth in the fourth quarter and that it is on track to break the 40 million passenger mark this year. The Dubai International Airport has reported a passenger traffic growth of 8% this year, with the growth expected to rise to 13.6% in 2010.

In addition, Cargo volumes rose 2.75 percent to 168,334 tonnes, compared to 163,836 tonnes during the same period last year, Dubai Airport Authorities said. "While many airports worldwide continue to see traffic shrink, in Dubai business is good", shared Paul Griffiths, Dubai Airports CEO.