Dubai International Airport receives 95.2 million passengers during 2025 and expects 99.5 million in 2026
Dubai, February 11, 2020 – Dubai Airports announced today that Dubai International Airport will receive 95.2 million passengers during the year 2025, with a growth of 3.1% compared to the previous year, making it the busiest year in the airport’s history, and the highest in international passenger traffic among the world’s airports.
The year 2025 witnessed an exceptional performance during which the airport achieved several record peaks. It recorded its highest daily, monthly and quarterly numbers, in addition to the annual passenger traffic, which was the highest throughout its history at the limits of its maximum capacity, while maintaining high levels of operational excellence, confirming that the ability to operate in a sustainable manner at these record levels has become part of normal operational operations.
December concluded the year 2025 as the busiest month in the history of Dubai International Airport. It received 8.7 million passengers, a growth of 6.1% compared to last year, while the last quarter was also the busiest ever, receiving 25.1 million passengers, an increase of 5.9% compared to the same period in 2024.
The total number of flights during the fourth quarter reached 118,000, an increase of 5% on a quarterly basis, bringing the total number of flights during the year 2025 to 454,800 flights, an increase of 3.3% on an annual basis.
Despite the continued growth in the number of flights, the average number of passengers per flight stabilized at a high rate of 214 passengers, reflecting the expansion in operating aircraft with larger capacity and high efficiency in occupancy rates, while the annual seat occupancy rate reached 77.6%, with a slight decline of 0.5 percentage points.
The year 2025 demonstrated Dubai International Airport’s ability to achieve operational sustainability and provide an outstanding guest experience at record levels, through disciplined planning and close coordination within the airport community “oneDXB”, which includes airlines, service partners and government agencies.
Dubai International Airport handled 86.75 million bags during 2025, an annual increase of 4.95%, recording the highest baggage handling volume during one year in its history.
In confirmation of Dubai International Airport’s commitment to the highest standards of operational excellence, 89% of incoming luggage was delivered to guests ending their flights at the airport within 45 minutes of the plane’s arrival, while the airport continued to achieve world-class performance in baggage handling accuracy of 99.75%, i.e. a rate of 2.47 delayed bags per thousand passengers.
The average time taken to complete travel procedures has also stabilized despite the growth in passenger traffic to new record levels, as the average waiting time for 99.35% of guests at passport control points for departures was less than 10 minutes, while the waiting time for 98.8% of travelers was less than 15 minutes to complete arrival procedures, while the time taken to complete security screening procedures for 98.9% of travelers remained less than 5 minutes.
India maintained its position as the largest market for Dubai International Airport with 11.9 million passengers, followed by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with 7.5 million, then the United Kingdom with 6.3 million, and Pakistan with 4.3 million, in addition to the United States, whose number of passengers through Dubai International Airport reached 3.3 million.
The year 2025 also witnessed remarkable growth in several markets, as travel from China increased by 16.6% to reach 2.5 million passengers, and Russia recorded a growth of 6% to reach 2.8 million, while travel from Turkey increased by 6.7% to 2.2 million, from Egypt by 14.3% to 1.8 million, and from Italy by 12.5% to 1.6 million passengers.
At the city level, London continued to lead the list of most popular destinations through Dubai International Airport with 3.9 million passengers, followed by Riyadh with 3 million, then Mumbai and Jeddah with 2.4 million each, along with New Delhi with 2.2 million passengers.
By the end of 2025, Dubai International Airport has become connected to 291 destinations in 110 countries via 108 international airlines, which strengthens its position as one of the most air-connected aviation centers in the world.
Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, said that while the performance of airports around the world is often linked to peak times, long-term performance is determined by the extent of the ability to sustain those moments. Dubai International Airport has proven during the year 2025 that record levels are no longer an exception, but rather have become part of its normal operational operations, while the consistency of its operations reflects the strength of the system under which the airport community operates “oneDXB” and its ability to achieve excellence until During the busiest and most demanding periods.
He expected that passenger traffic through Dubai International Airport in the current year 2026 will reach about 99.5 million passengers, thanks to close coordination between the components of the sector and the airport community (oneDXB).
- For more: Follow Khaleejion 24 Arabic, Khaleejion 24 English, Khaleejion 24 Live, and for social media follow us on Facebook and Twitter
