Dubai airport sets new world record with 95.2 million passengers

Dubai International Airport (DXB) welcomed a record 95.2 million guests in 2025, up 3.1% from 2024, marking the busiest year in its history and the highest annual international passenger traffic reported by any airport worldwide. 

 

Unlike seasonal peaks, DXB has maintained sustained growth throughout the year, setting new records for its busiest day, month, quarter and full-year performance. The fourth quarter was its most active to date, handling 25.1 million passengers, representing a 5.9% year-on-year increase. December alone saw a record 8.7 million travellers, up 6.1% compared to 2024.

 

The airport connected passengers to nearly 300 destinations across 110 countries, served by more than 100 international airlines. Flight movements in the final reached 118,000, up 3.3% annually, bringing the total to 454,800. 

 

London retained its position as DXB’s busiest city route, welcoming nearly 4 million guests, followed by destinations in India and Saudi Arabia. India remained the DXB’s top country market, accounting for 11.9 million guests, ahead of Saudi, the UK, Pakistan and the US. China recorded one of the fastest-growing markets, with traffic up 16.6% to 2.5 million guests, alongside strong growth from Russia, Turkey, Egypt and Italy. 

 

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​​Operational performance also reached new heights, with more than 95% of passengers clearing passport control in under 10 minutes at departures and under 15 at arrivals. 

 

Commenting on the growth, Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, said: “In 2025, DXB showed that record traffic is no longer an exception, but part of its operating reality. That consistency at scale reflects the maturity of the system and the strength of collaboration across our oneDXB airport community to deliver excellence under growing demand.”  

 

Looking ahead, Griffiths predicts passenger traffic to surpass 99 million, supported by coordination across the oneDXB airport community, including all local airlines and immigration control authorities. 

 

As passenger numbers continue to rise, Dubai Airports is planning a strategic move to Dubai World Central - Al Maktoum International (DWC), with a full transition expected in 2030. 

 

DXB’s record passenger mirrors the city’s thriving tourism sector, which also set a new tourism record in 2025. Dubai welcomed nearly 20 million overnight tourists, a 5% increase from 2024, according to the emirate’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET). The largest sources of inbound tourists continue to be from the GCC and wider MENA region. 

 

For more information, visit dubaiairports.ae