Dubai International Airport posts record quarterly traffic with 24.2 million passengers

📷WAM

DUBAI, November — (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – Dubai International Airport (DXB) recorded the highest quarterly passenger traffic in its 65-year history in the third quarter of 2025, handling 24.2 million passengers between July and September, a 1.9% increase year-on-year, Dubai Airports said on Wednesday.

Passenger traffic for the first nine months reached 70.1 million, up 2.1% from the same period last year. Twelve-month rolling traffic at the end of September rose to a record 93.8 million passengers.

Aircraft movements remained strong, with 115,000 flights recorded in the third quarter. Between January and September, DXB handled 336,000 flights across all categories, an increase of 2.7% year-on-year. The average number of passengers per aircraft stood at 213 at the end of September.

Dubai Airports said ongoing priority projects to enhance services across all terminals include CB Central in Terminal 3, CB East, and CB West, alongside upgrades at Concourse D through CD Central, which will feature refreshed dwell areas, new passenger information, and improved access to retail.

The operator said it continues preparations for Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International (DWC), which will become Dubai’s main international gateway in the early 2030s. The new airport is being developed as a smart global aviation hub aimed at increasing efficiency, connectivity and sustainability.

“These record-breaking results reflect the continued strength of Dubai’s aviation and tourism sectors,” Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths said. He added that the development of DWC “represents the reimagining and evolution of the entire travel experience.”

India remained DXB’s top country market in the first nine months with 8.8 million passengers, followed by Saudi Arabia (5.5 million), the United Kingdom (4.6 million), Pakistan (3.2 million) and the United States (2.4 million).

London was the top city destination with 2.8 million passengers, followed by Riyadh (2.3 million), Mumbai (1.8 million), Jeddah (1.7 million) and New Delhi (1.6 million).

Outbound leisure destinations with the highest traffic included Malaysia (687,000 passengers), Vietnam (493,000), the Czech Republic (341,000), Uzbekistan (312,000) and Denmark (239,000).

DXB handled 63.8 million bags in the first nine months, a 6.2% year-on-year increase. Of these, 90% were delivered within 45 minutes of aircraft arrival, while mishandled baggage accuracy stood at 99.9%, equating to two mishandled bags per 1,000 passengers.

During the third quarter, 99.6% of departing passengers cleared passport control in under 10 minutes, and 99.8% of arriving passengers waited less than 15 minutes. Security screening times remained under five minutes for 99.7% of travellers.

The airport’s performance reinforces Dubai’s position as a global aviation hub, with the sector playing a key role in tourism, trade and investment.