Xinjiang opens direct cargo flights to Dubai, fresh fruits arrive in 6 hours.

On August 16, a full cargo plane loaded with 18.49 tons of fresh Xinjiang seasonal fruits and specialty dried fruits took off from Urumqi Tianshan International Airport, flying directly to Dubai Al Maktoum International Airport, marking the official opening of the international cargo route between Urumqi and Dubai.

The cargo on the inaugural flight came from the Xinjiang New Fruit Agricultural Products Sales Co., Ltd., including watermelons, tomato products, grapes, and dried apples.

In the past, Xinjiang fruits were mainly transported to the Middle East via sea, land, and rail, with long transportation times and difficulties in preservation. Air transport via transfers in Central Asian cities such as Almaty and Tashkent required 20 to 30 hours. Now, direct flights take only about 6 hours, improving efficiency by over 70%. The direct flight route solves the problem of long transfer times and high losses, allowing seasonal fruits to reach the market in the best condition.

Currently, Xinjiang fruits have been exported to more than 10 countries and regions, including Thailand, Kazakhstan, and Russia. Additionally, plans are underway to open new fruit cargo routes to Southeast Asia, Japan, South Korea, and Europe.

Image source: Xinhua News Agency 2025 International Fruit and Vegetable Report. All rights reserved. For reprint permission, contact the International Fruit and Vegetable Report and credit the source.