Dubai International Airport sets new passenger record for first half of 2025

The airport faced temporary airspace restrictions in May and June but still managed to increase passenger numbers year-on-year by 3.1% in Q2. A statement from Dubai International Airport emphasized that this resilience "reinforces DXB’s vital role in connecting Dubai to the world and supporting the city's broader economic progress."

Top destinations for DXB passengers in H1 included London (1.8 million), Riyadh (1.5 million), and Mumbai (1.2 million). In January alone, DXB handled 8.5 million passengers—its busiest month during H1—and averaged about 254,000 daily travelers over six months.

The facility processed nearly 42 million bags in H1, delivering 91% within 45 minutes. Looking ahead, airport officials project handling up to 85 million bags by year-end—a figure that would surpass last year's record of just over 81 million.

With increased travel expected from late summer through winter due to school reopenings and a busy events calendar, annual passenger numbers are projected to reach approximately 96 million in 2025. As CEO Paul Griffiths stated: "we expect the annual traffic to reach 96 million this year." While breaking the symbolic milestone of 100 million remains out of reach for now, all indicators point toward another record-setting year for Dubai International Airport.