Page last updated: 8 October 2025
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 over 270 destinations across six continents.
How many passengers does Dubai International Airport serve each year?
Close to 90 million passengers travel through Dubai International Airport (DXB) each year.
- In 2024, DXB handled 92.3 million passengers, setting a new record (6% increase YoY).
- 86.4 million passengers traveled through DXB in 2019, which dropped to 25.9 million in 2020 and 29.1 million in 2021 during the pandemic.
How many passengers passed through Dubai International Airport in 2024?
- Approximately 92.3 million passengers used DXB in 2024, 6.8% above the 2019 pre-pandemic level of 86.4 million.
How many passengers passed through Dubai International Airport in 2023?
- About 86.9 million passengers traveled through DXB in 2023 (31.4% increase YoY). This was 0.6% above the 2019 pre-pandemic baseline.
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: Direct flights to over 270 international cities
Aircraft Operations at Dubai International Airport
Over 400,000 aircraft operations (including takeoffs and landings) occur at Dubai International Airport (DXB) each year.
- In 2024, DXB handled approximately 440,000 operations (5.7% increase YoY)
- Annual aircraft operations reached 416,000 in 2023
- 373,000 operations occurred at DXB in 2019, which dropped to 184,000 in 2020 and recovered to 250,000 in 2021 (pandemic years)
How much revenue does Dubai International Airport generate each year?
Dubai International Airport (DXB) generates over $3.5 billion in revenue each year.
- In 2024, DXB generated approximately $3.8 billion in revenue (9% growth YoY).
- Annual revenue reached $3.5 billion in 2023.
- $3.3 billion in revenue was generated in 2019, which dropped to $1.2 billion in 2020 and approximately $1.8 billion in 2021 during the pandemic.
Dubai International Airport Revenue in 2024
Approximately $3.8 billion in revenue was generated by Dubai International Airport (DXB) in 2024.
- DXB generated $1.5 billion from aeronautical revenue (40%) and $2.3 billion from non-aeronautical revenue (60%) of total airport revenue in 2024.
Which is the busiest terminal at Dubai International Airport?
Terminal 3 was the busiest terminal in 2024, handling approximately 50% of total airport traffic at Dubai International Airport (DXB).
Dubai International Airport Terminals by Passenger Volume (2024)
- Terminal 3: 46.2 million passengers (Emirates operations)
- Terminal 1: 31.0 million passengers (international carriers)
- Terminal 2: 15.1 million passengers (FlyDubai and regional carriers)
Which airlines carry the most passengers at Dubai International Airport?
Emirates carried the most passengers (50% market share) at Dubai International Airport (DXB) in 2024.
Market Share by Airline at DXB (2024)
- Emirates: 50% (46.2 million passengers)
- FlyDubai: 17% (15.7 million passengers)
- Air India Group: 4% (3.7 million passengers)
- British Airways: 2% (1.8 million passengers)
- Saudi Arabian Airlines: 2% (1.8 million passengers)
- Pakistan International Airlines: 2% (1.8 million passengers)
- Other carriers: 23% (21.2 million passengers)
Busiest Routes from Dubai International Airport
Dubai International Airport’s busiest route was Dubai to London, and the busiest regional route was Dubai to Riyadh in 2024.
Top International Routes by Passengers (2024)
- DXB – London (LHR): 3.9 million passengers
- DXB – Riyadh (RUH): 3.2 million passengers
- DXB – Mumbai (BOM): 2.5 million passengers
- DXB – Jeddah (JED): 2.3 million passengers
- DXB – New Delhi (DEL): 2.2 million passengers
Top Country Markets by Passengers (2024)
- India: 12.0 million passengers
- Saudi Arabia: 7.6 million passengers
- United Kingdom: 6.2 million passengers
- Pakistan: 4.5 million passengers
- United States: 3.5 million passengers
Monthly Trends in Passenger Traffic
December was the busiest month with approximately 8.90 million passengers in 2024, followed by July with 8.10 million and January with 8.00 million.
Dubai Travel Resources
How much cargo moves through Dubai International Airport each year?
Dubai International Airport (DXB) handles approximately 2.2 million metric tons of cargo each year.
- In 2024, the airport processed 2.20 million metric tons of cargo (20.2% growth YoY).
- Cargo volumes reached 1.83 million metric tons in 2023
- DXB Airport had handled 2.59 million metric tons in 2016 (peak year), which dropped to 1.93 million metric tons in 2020 during pandemic lows.
How reliable is Dubai International Airport?
Dubai International Airport (DXB) achieved an approximately 75% on-time departure rate in 2024.
- Cancellations (2024): 0.3% of scheduled flights
- Average delay (2024): 15 min (improved from 18 min in 2023)
- Peak delay factors: Summer heat, occasional regional airspace limits
- Top airline performance (2024): Emirates 77% on-time, FlyDubai 73% on-time
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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