Dubai International Airport begins 2026 with busiest day on record

Dubai International Airport (DXB) has kicked off 2026 by setting a new record, welcoming the highest number of passengers in a single day in its history. On 3 January, DXB handled more than 324,000 travellers, surpassing all previous daily records. The momentum continued the following day, with 322,000 guests passing through the airport’s terminals, rounding off what has been described as an “exceptional” peak travel period.

According to Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths, daily traffic is expected to remain above 300,000 passengers well into mid-January, with “around 3.4 million travellers” forecast between 1 and 11 January. The record start to the year underlines the enduring strength of Dubai’s air connectivity and its position as the world’s busiest international airport.

The milestone builds on a remarkable 2025, when DXB posted its highest-ever half-year total of 46 million passengers in H1, before reaching 70.1 million in the first nine months – another new record. By November, DXB had overtaken Atlanta to become the world’s busiest airport overall for the first time, capping the year with 8.8 million passengers in December, a 6% increase over the same month in 2024, and marking the airport’s busiest month in its 65-year history. 

RELATED:

UAE airports on track for record 159 million passengers in 2025

Middle East airlines rebound with 5.3% passenger growth

Dubai International reports record-breaking passenger numbers in 2025

To meet demand over the 2025-26 winter season, Dubai Airports expanded its flight schedule to create the largest network in its history across DXB and Dubai World Central (DWC). Additions included Kazakhstan’s FlyArystan, operating twice-weekly from Aktau, and the launch of new services by Fly Jinnah from Lahore.

European carriers also reinforced capacity: Virgin Atlantic upgraded its Dubai route to the Airbus A350-1000, boosting seat supply by 52%, while British Airways reinstated A380 operations from London Heathrow and Austrian Airlines resumed daily flights from Vienna.

The strong start to 2026 reflects the wider momentum across the UAE’s aviation sector. Nationally, airports are projected to have handled a record 159 million passengers in 2025, up 8% year-on-year, according to the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA).

Looking ahead, Middle East carriers are forecast to maintain their industry-leading performance, with the IATA Global Outlook projecting a 9.3% net profit margin in 2026 – more than double the global average – and a combined net profit of US$6.8 billion for the region’s airlines.

For more information, visit dubaiairports.ae