Sharjah approves new Dh35 airport fee

Dubai: Sharjah is joining Dubai in levying a Dh35 ($9.53) “airport facilities fee” on passengers departing its airport, according to a report on Tuesday by state news agency WAM.

The Sharjah Executive Council approved the new charge for passengers using Sharjah International in a meeting on Tuesday chaired by Shaikh Abdullah Bin Salem Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah and Deputy Chairman of the council, the report said.

The announcement comes a week after Dubai approved its own Dh35 airport facilities fee for passengers departing and transferring at the emirate’s airports on flights after June 30 and booked after March 1.

In Sharjah, the fee will be imposed on most passengers leaving the airport, including those transferring to other flights, according to the report. Like Dubai, it won’t be levied on transit passengers travelling on the same flight number, passengers under the age of two or on airline crew.

The WAM report did not say when Sharjah’s fee will be imposed or how it will be collected. It is common for airlines to collect airport fees on behalf of the local airport authority when selling the airfare.

Passengers departing from Sharjah International are already charged a Dh75 ($20.42) service fee and a Dh5 ($1.36) security fee, the same as Abu Dhabi International.

A spokesperson for Abu Dhabi Airports, the airport operator in the emirate, declined to comment when asked by phone if new fees are being considered.

Sharjah International, the UAE’s third busiest airport after Dubai International and Abu Dhabi International, handled 9.5 million passengers in 2015 and is the main base for budget carrier Air Arabia.

Last week, Dubai approved a new Dh35 charge on passengers departing its airports Dubai International and Al Maktoum International at Dubai World Central. Dubai said the fee would help finance the expansion of its airports.

Departing passengers at Dubai also pay a Dh75 service fee and a Dh5 security fee. Those fees, including the new Dh35 charge, is collected by the airlines when selling the airfare.

The Dh75 service fee and Dh5 security fee is collected on behalf of operator Dubai Airports and the Dh35 airport facility’s fee is collected on behalf of the Dubai government public treasury.