Dubai International Airport receives 23.4 million passengers during the first quarter of 2025

Dubai International Airport received 23.4 million passengers during the first quarter of 2025, maintaining its strong momentum and strengthening its position as the most crowded international airport in the world, which reflects Dubai’s growing attractiveness as a global destination, and the pivotal role that the airport plays as a preferred gate for millions of travelers around the world.


The movement of passengers increased by 1.5% compared to the same period in 2024, despite the fact that the first quarter of last year had set a record, as last January witnessed the highest monthly movement in the airport history, with the reception of 8.5 million passengers, an achievement that would not have been achieved without the advanced infrastructure and great coordination between thousands of individuals working behind the scenes.

The most prestigious countries
India maintained its lead as the largest destination in terms of the number of passengers to and from Dubai International Airport with about 3 million passengers, followed by Saudi Arabia (1.9 million), the United Kingdom (1.5 million), Pakistan (million), the United States (804 thousand), and Germany (738 thousand). London was topped at the existing cities with 935 thousand passengers, followed by Riyadh (759 thousand), Jeddah (627 thousand), Mumbai (615 thousand), and New Delhi (564 thousand).

Traveling for entertainment also witnessed a remarkable increase during the first quarter, driven by a seasonal peak at the beginning of the year, Eid Al -Fitr holiday, and the spring vacation, where some tourist destinations recorded a significant increase in the number of travelers, with double increases in the movement of passengers to destinations such as the Czech Republic (+30.6%), Vietnam (+28.6%), and Spain (+20.2%).


The shipping movement recorded a slight decrease by 3.6% during the first quarter compared to the same period last year, as Dubai International Airport dealt with about 517,000 tons of goods.


Although the numbers reflect an important aspect of the airport operating performance, the human factor remains the main driver behind Dubai International Airport. The commitment of the “OneDXB” community, which works on the principle of “the guest first”, which includes the employees of Dubai airports and its partners from government agencies, airlines and commercial operators, was a major factor in translating operating excellence into exceptional hospitality experiences. It reflects the quality and leadership standards adopted by Dubai airports.


Among those experiments, the example presented by the missing office at Dubai International Airport in cooperation with the Dubai Police, where he managed to restore a bag containing 102 thousand dirhams in cash, as well as important passports and personal documents, and returned it within only 30 minutes of reporting its loss, to give the comfort of two brothers who were on their way to return to their country after receiving the news of the death of one of their family members. This human spirit was also embodied in the position of Abdullah Al -Balushi, an employee of the General Administration of Identity and Foreigners Affairs, who stopped a guest not for an inspection, but rather to provide more time for her son to bid her farewell, and it is a gesture praised by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai “may God bless him”, through his official platforms where he said: “A greeting to those who draw a smile or give joy in the heart of a traveler … We want it. “

Live testimony on dedication and efficiency

For his part, Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, said: “What we achieved in the first quarter of the year is not just numbers, but a live testimony on the dedication and efficiency of our work team. The registration of the highest monthly passenger movement in the history of the airport, while maintaining exceptional service levels, whether in terms of luggage handling and the smooth flow of guests, is a qualitative achievement that requires accuracy, flexibility and integrated efforts from all the teams concerned.”


Griffiths added: “The secret of our success in Dubai airports lies in the collective work and the unified spirit of the OneDXB community, where each individual plays a vital role within an integrated system. This firm culture of continuous cooperation and coordination is one of the basic pillars that contribute to promoting performance and meeting the increasing needs of our guests constantly.”


The airport recorded 111,000 flights during the first quarter, an increase of 1.9% compared to the same period last year, and an average of 215 passengers on each flight. Despite the continuous growth in the number of passengers, the airport maintained high levels of operational efficiency, where more than 21 million bags were dealt with during the same period, and the lost luggage rate is less than 1.95 bags per 1,000 passengers, with a success rate of 99.8%.


Immediate monitoring technologies and passport systems enhanced by biometric recognition techniques have contributed to lower waiting times for about 95% of travelers at the main checkpoints. Obtaining services have also been strengthened, including services for people of determination and guests with invisible challenges, reflecting the commitment of Dubai International Airport to provide a comprehensive travel experience centered around the guest.

Maintaining the well -being of employees
This persistence in performance is based on a firm institutional culture, as Dubai airports during the first quarter won the “Exclusive Labor Place” award from the Gallop Foundation in appreciation of its continuous investments in maintaining the welfare of employees, enhancing their interaction and developing their leadership capabilities.

This commitment to the human element, employees and guests, confirms the pivotal role of the positive work environment in achieving concrete results.


Last March, Dubai International Airport maintained its position as the most crowded international airport in terms of numbers of international travelers for the eleventh year in a row, according to the classification of the International Airport Council (ACI).

Today, the airport is a global connection point linking travelers to 269 destinations in 106 countries, through a network of 101 international airlines. However, the human element, which oversees the conduct of these daily flights efficiently, remains the essence of what distinguishes Dubai International Airport and maintains its position in the lead.