Dubai Airport Logs Historically High 46 Million Passengers Amidst Interruptions within Six Months
Dubai International Airport (DXB) has reported a robust performance in the first half of 2025, handling a record 46 million passengers - a 2.3% year-on-year increase. Despite temporary disruptions caused by the Iran-Israel conflict in May and June, the airport managed to serve over 222,000 flights during this period.
The brief but intense conflict led to the closure of certain Middle Eastern airspace by some governments. This caused regional airspace disruptions and flight cancellations affecting many Middle East destinations. However, the impact on DXB was described as "very localized, very short-lived and very insignificant" by the airport's leadership.
India remains DXB's biggest country market, followed by Saudi Arabia, the UK, Pakistan, and the US. The airport is connected to more than 269 destinations in 107 countries, served by a network of 92 international airlines. London is the busiest city destination, followed by Riyadh, Mumbai, Jeddah, New Delhi, and Istanbul.
In the second quarter of 2025, passenger traffic grew by 3.1% year-on-year to 22.5 million. The average monthly passenger traffic during January-June was approximately 7.7 million. Incremental growth across all of DXB's markets is expected for the second half of 2025, with Mr Griffiths, the airport's operator, expressing optimism about the balance of the year and hoping to revise the forecast upwards.
The Czech Republic is very popular, and Vietnam is growing quickly. DXB handled more than 1 million tonnes of cargo in the first six months of the year, a 0.1% rise compared to the same period in 2024. The airport will hit the 100-million passengers mark during the course of 2026, earlier than the previous forecast of 2027.
Asked about an initial public offering, Mr Griffiths stated that DXB's performance continues to exceed expectations every year, but this is a decision for the Dubai government as the asset owner. The operator of DXB, Dubai Airports, has maintained its full-year traffic forecast of 96 million passengers for 2025.
Sources: [1] Dubai International Airport [2] Reuters [3] Gulf News
- The Iran-Israel conflict in May and June of 2025 resulted in temporary airspace disruptions and flight cancellations affecting many Middle East destinations, but Dubai International Airport (DXB) managed to maintain a robust performance.
- Despite the impacts of the Iran-Israel conflict, DXB's leadership described the airport's disruptions as "very localized, very short-lived and very insignificant."
- India remains DXB's biggest country market, while Saudi Arabia, the UK, Pakistan, and the US follow as the airport's other top destination countries.
- In the first half of 2025, DXB served over 222,000 flights and handled 46 million passengers, showing a 2.3% year-on-year increase.
- In the second quarter of 2025, passenger traffic at DXB grew by 3.1% year-on-year to 22.5 million passengers, with an average monthly passenger traffic of approximately 7.7 million during January-June.
- Dubai International Airport will hit the 100-million passengers mark during 2026, earlier than the previous forecast of 2027, while handling more than 1 million tonnes of cargo in the first six months of the year.
- Dubai Airports, the operator of DXB, has maintained its full-year traffic forecast of 96 million passengers for 2025, but an initial public offering remains a decision for the Dubai government as the asset owner.
