Dubai (AFP) - Dubai International Airport received 95.2 million passengers last year, exceeding records, which led to significant pressure on its capacity as it prepares to move to a new location, it was said in a statement on Wednesday.
Published on: 02/11/2026 - 09:57
Dubai International Airport, the world's busiest airport for international passenger traffic, witnessed a growth of 3.1% in 2025, recording a monthly record level of 8.7 million passengers in December.
Dubai Airports confirmed that the airport "is operating at its maximum capacity while maintaining the highest levels of operational performance."
Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths expected the number of passengers to rise to 99.5 million passengers this year.
This number may reach 115 million passengers before the transition to Al Maktoum International Airport, located on the outskirts of Dubai, is completed in 2032, Griffiths said in October.
The total cost of the new airport will reach $35 billion, and the number of passengers will reach 150 million passengers annually during the next ten years, making it the largest in the world, with the number eventually rising to 260 million passengers.
Dubai, the commercial and economic center of the oil-rich United Arab Emirates, is strategically located as an air hub linking Africa, Asia and Europe.
According to the latest statistics issued by the Airports Council International, Dubai ranked first in the world in international air traffic, and second in the world in the total number of passengers after Atlanta Airport in 2024.
This desert city, which includes high-rise towers and luxury beach resorts, also received a record number of international visitors amounting to 19.59 million visitors in 2025, an increase of 5% from 2024, according to what the Department of Economy and Tourism in Dubai announced this week.
© 2026 AFP
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