Dubai International Airport set a new record with 95.2 million passengers in 2025, cementing its place as the world's busiest airport. Tourism rose 5% to 19.6 million visitors, the third straight year of record totals. The airport — home to Emirates — served 108 airlines to 291 cities. Authorities plan to move operations to Al Maktoum International around 2032 after an estimated $35 billion upgrade.
Dubai International Breaks Records — 95.2 Million Passengers in 2025, Eyes Move to Al Maktoum
FILE - An Emirates Boeing 777 stands at the gate at Dubai International Airport as another prepares to land on the runway in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Aug. 17, 2022. (AP Photo/Jon Gambrell, File)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Dubai International Airport retained its status as the world's busiest airport in 2025, handling a record 95.2 million passengers as the emirate's economy and travel sector continued to expand.
The airport's post-pandemic rebound has been driven by strong global demand for travel and rising tourism, business and real estate activity in Dubai. Authorities reported visitor numbers rose 5% last year to 19.6 million, marking a third consecutive year of record tourism.
The state-owned airport is the primary hub for long-haul carrier Emirates, a central player in the network of state-owned and state-linked companies often described as “Dubai Inc.”
“Dubai International showed in 2025 that record traffic is no longer an exception, but part of its operating reality,” said Paul Griffiths, chief executive of Dubai Airports.
Passenger traffic has climbed steadily: 95.2 million in 2025, 92.3 million in 2024, 86.9 million in 2023, with pre-pandemic figures at 86.3 million in 2019 and 89.1 million in 2018. The airport served 108 airlines connecting to 291 cities across 110 countries.
FILE - Paul Griffiths, the CEO of Dubai Airports, is reflected next to a tablet showing traffic data at the Dubai International Airport as he talks to The Associated Press at the Dubai Air Show, United Arab Emirates, Nov. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri, File)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
India remained the top outbound market from Dubai International in 2025 with 11.9 million passengers, followed by Saudi Arabia (7.5 million) and the United Kingdom (6.3 million).
While a real-estate boom and record tourist numbers have strengthened Dubai's profile as both a destination and a global hub, rising passenger volumes and costs are creating pressures for Emirati citizens and the large expatriate workforce that underpins the city's economy.
Next Steps — Al Maktoum International
Dubai plans to progressively move operations to Al Maktoum International Airport, located about 45 kilometers (28 miles) from the city center. Opened in 2010 with a single terminal, Al Maktoum was used as aircraft parking during the pandemic but has since resumed cargo, commercial and private flights. It also hosts the biennial Dubai Air Show and has extensive land for future expansion.
Authorities expect to transfer major operations to Al Maktoum around 2032 after an upgrade estimated at roughly $35 billion, a move intended to unlock capacity and support long-term growth in passenger and cargo traffic.
As Dubai prepares for that transition, the airport's record year underlines both the resilience of global travel demand and the strategic role Dubai plays in regional and international connectivity.
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