Dubai International ranks as world’s second-busiest airport

Dubai International airport (DXB) handled more than 95 million passengers in 2025, ranking second among the world’s busiest airports, according to the latest data from the Airports Council International (ACI).

 

DXB broke multiple records throughout last year, posting its highest-ever half-year total of 46 million passengers in H1 2025, while traffic reached 70.1 million in the first nine months, and December 2025 was the biggest-ever month in the airport’s history, with 8.7 million passengers, up 6.1% year-on-year.

 

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in the US took the number one spot with 106.3 million passengers, ending Dubai’s previous 11-year streak as the world’s busiest airport. 

 

Tokyo Haneda ranked third with 91.7 million passengers, followed by Dallas-Fort Worth and Shanghai with 85.6 million and 84.9 million respectively. DXB remains the only Middle Eastern airport to rank among the top 10 hubs.

 

RELATED:

Dubai airport sets new world record with 95.2 million passengers

Dubai International Airport begins 2026 with busiest day on record

Dubai limits international flights until 31 May

 

The top 10 airports accounted for 9% of global passenger traffic, with total volumes reaching 9.8 billion, up 3.6% from 2024. 

 

Dubai also retained the largest volume of international passengers for a third consecutive year, surpassing hubs such as London Heathrow and Seoul’s Incheon. Globally, international passenger traffic reached 4 billion in 2025, up 5.9% in 2024. 

 

Justin Erbacci, ACI World Director General, said: “These hubs keep people and goods moving, supporting global trade, tourism and economic growth in their communities and regions.”

 

DXB’s momentum continued into 2026, up until the outbreak of the Iran war, with 324,000 passengers handled on 3 January, the highest number of passengers recorded in a single day in the airport’s history.  

 

For more information, visit aci.aero