Dubai International Airport (DXB) Statistics

Page last updated: 20 February 2026

Dubai International Airport is the UAE’s primary aviation gateway and the world’s busiest hub for international travelers. The airport spans 2,900 hectares in Dubai’s Al Garhoud district and links passengers to 272 destinations across six continents.

How many passengers does Dubai International Airport serve each year?

Over 90 million passengers travel through Dubai International Airport each year.

• In 2024, DXB handled 90.61 million passengers, setting a new record (4.3% increase YoY).
  
• 86.40 million passengers traveled through DXB in 2019, which dropped to 25.84 million in 2020 and 29.11 million in 2021 during the pandemic.

Dubai International Airport 2025 Statistics

• DXB recorded 70.1 million passengers in the first nine months of 2025 (January to September).
  
• Q3 2025 (July-September) was the highest quarterly traffic period with 24.2 million passengers (1.9% increase YoY).

Note: This is preliminary data, subject to change once the final annual statistics are released.

How many passengers passed through Dubai International Airport in 2024?

• A total of 90.61 million passengers used DXB in 2024, comprising 44.85 million arrivals and 45.76 million departures.

How many passengers passed through Dubai International Airport in 2023?

• About 86.88 million passengers traveled through DXB in 2023, with 43.85 million arriving and 43.03 million departing.

How large is Dubai International Airport?

Dubai International Airport covers approximately 2,900 hectares (7,200 acres) of land in the UAE.

• Runways: 2 parallel runways (12L/30R, 12R/30L) operating 24/7
  
• Terminals: 3 terminals, 200+ gates
  
• Destinations: DXB is connected to 272 destinations across 107 countries in 2024

Aircraft Operations at Dubai International Airport

Over 440,000 aircraft operations (including takeoffs and landings) have occurred at Dubai International Airport (DXB) in recent years.

• In 2024, DXB handled exactly 444,126 operations (5.5% increase YoY)
  
• Annual aircraft operations reached 420,849 in 2023
  
• 376,598 operations occurred at DXB in 2019, which dropped to 184,713 in 2020 (pandemic years) and recovered to 236,515 in 2021 

Which airlines carry the most passengers at Dubai International Airport?

• Emirates carried the most passengers (51% market share) at Dubai International Airport (DXB) in 2024.

Top Destinations for Arrivals to Dubai International Airport

India was the top country market for arrivals at Dubai International Airport in 2024.

1. India: 5.36 million passengers
2. Saudi Arabia: 3.63 million passengers
3. United Kingdom: 2.96 million passengers
4. Pakistan: 2.23 million passengers
5. United States: 1.70 million passengers
6. Russia: 1.66 million passengers
7. Germany: 1.34 million passengers
8. Australia: 1.08 million passengers
9. Turkey: 1.08 million passengers
10. Thailand: 972,858 passengers

What is the busiest month at Dubai International Airport?

• December was the busiest month with 8.24 million guests at Dubai International Airport in 2024.

How much cargo moves through Dubai International Airport each year?

Dubai International Airport (DXB) handles approximately 2.2 million tons of cargo each year.

• In 2024, the airport processed 2.20 million tons of cargo (a 4.3% increase YoY).
  
• Cargo volumes reached 2.11 million tons in 2023.
  
• DXB Airport handled 2.38 million tons in 2019, which dropped to 1.84 million tons in 2020 during pandemic lows.

Dubai Travel Resources

• Dubai Car Rentals

How does Dubai International Airport rank globally?

Dubai International Airport (DXB) ranks as the 2nd busiest airport globally and the 1st busiest for international passengers by traffic in 2024.

• Total passengers (2024): 2nd worldwide after Atlanta (ATL)
  
• International passengers: 1st for the 11th straight year
  
• Middle East (2024): 1st
  
• Cargo (2024): 11th

What is Dubai International Airport’s economic impact?

• Dubai International Airport (DXB) contributes over $37.3 billion annually to Dubai’s economy. It supports over 400,000 jobs. Roughly 27% of Dubai’s GDP depends on aviation.

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Asia Travel Statistics Resources

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References

1. DSC: Dubai International Airport Traffic Data and Statistics