Dubai International Airport Sets New Record with 46 Million Passengers in First Half of 2025

Dubai, UAE – July 29, 2025: Dubai International Airport (DXB) has reported its busiest first half on record, welcoming 46 million passengers in the first six months of 2025, a 2.3% increase compared to the same period last year.

The growth comes despite temporary airspace disruptions in May and June, highlighting the airport’s operational resilience and the strength of Dubai’s position as a global aviation hub. In the second quarter alone, DXB handled 22.5 million guests, up 3.1% year-on-year. April emerged as the busiest month of the quarter, with 8 million passengers, marking the most active April in the airport’s history.

Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, attributed the strong performance to the agility of the airport community and the unified operational approach under the oneDXB framework. “DXB’s continued growth through a period of regional challenges highlights the strength of Dubai and the UAE, the agility of our operations, and the commitment of our airport community,” said Griffiths. He also noted that the second half of the year is expected to see an acceleration in passenger traffic, with major events such as the Dubai Airshow 2025 expected to draw large international crowds.

With an average of 7.7 million passengers per month and daily footfall reaching 254,000, January set a new all-time monthly record with 8.5 million travellers passing through the terminals.

Operational efficiency remained a standout, with 222,000 total flight movements recorded in H1. The load factor hit 76%, while baggage handling performance exceeded global standards. Over 41.8 million bags were processed in the first half, with 91% delivered within 45 minutes of arrival and a mishandling rate of just 2 bags per 1,000 passengers, significantly outperforming the 2024 industry average of 6.3, as reported by SITA.

DXB is projected to process over 85 million bags by the end of the year, likely surpassing its previous record of 81.2 million in 2024. The busiest baggage days so far were January 3–5, when volumes peaked at 300,000 bags per day.

India remained DXB’s top country market with 5.9 million travellers, followed by Saudi Arabia (3.6 million), the UK (3.0 million), Pakistan (2.1 million), and the US (1.6 million). London was the top city destination with 1.8 million guests, followed by Riyadh (1.5 million), Mumbai (1.2 million), Jeddah and New Delhi (1.1 million each), and Istanbul (982,000).

Cargo volumes also remained stable, with just over 1 million tonnes handled, a slight 0.1% year-on-year increase. The airport’s connectivity spans 269 destinations across 107 countries, served by more than 92 international airlines, reinforcing Dubai’s strategic role in global trade, tourism, and commerce.

Based on current performance and the upcoming travel demand, Dubai Airports expects total annual traffic to reach 96 million by the end of 2025, edging closer to the historic 100 million milestone.