DXB Airport hits record 95.2 million visitors in 2025

Dubai International (DXB) has welcomed 95.2 million guests in 2025, marking the busiest year in the airport’s history and the highest annual international passenger traffic ever recorded by any airport.

Hailing the achievement, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, described the airport on social media platform X as the "nerve centre of Dubai".

He added that the location received over 454 thousand flights during the year, with the average waiting time for passengers reported at less than 15 minutes only to complete the arrival procedure. 

Sheikh Mohammed also noted that he is "proud of its services .. proud of its team led by Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum for decades with all professionalism .. and proud of its exceptional growth rates".

مطار دبي الدولي .. عصب الحياة في دبي.. استقبل خلال العام 2025 أكثر من 95 مليون مسافر ليكون المطار الأكثر ازدحاماً بحركة المسافرين الدوليين في العالم..

مطار دبي الدولي مدرسة في جودة التعامل والخدمات حيث استقبل المطار خلال العام 454 ألف رحلة وبلغ متوسط وقت الانتظار لإجراءات الوصول…

— HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) February 11, 2026

Speaking to Dubai Eye's Business Breakfast show on Thursday, Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, spoke on the airport's connections around the world.

India retained its position as DXB’s largest country market with 11.9 million guests, followed by Saudi Arabia at 7.5 million, the UK at 6.3 million, Pakistan at 4.3 million, and the US at 3.3 million.

London remained DXB’s busiest city destination with 3.9 million guests, followed by Riyadh at 3 million, Mumbai and Jeddah at 2.4 million each, and New Delhi at 2.2 million.

DXB also efficiently managed 86.75 million bags in 2025, marking the highest ever baggage volume handled during a calendar year. 

Griffiths highlighted that the 2025 records not only maintain the airport's position as the "world's busiest", but also introduces a new achievement. 

While Dubai has maintained its plans to move most of its operations to Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC), Griffiths notes that efforts will still be placed to improve DXB as well.

For 2026, Griffiths forecasted a new record of 99.5 million visitors, but encouraged UAE residents "to tell your friends, get to DXB, doesn't matter where you go, just make sure that we can tip over that magic 100 million".