UAE airports gear up for Eid travel rush

DXB expects 3.6 million passengers with 5 April being the busiest day

As the Eid Al Fitr holiday approaches, Dubai International Airport (DXB) is gearing up for a travel surge.

The world’s busiest international hub expects to receive more than 3.6 million passengers between 26 March and 7 April 2025, marking a daily average of 276,000.

Departures during the Eid week are expected to rise by 19% compared to average weekly volumes over the past month, reflecting a significant seasonal uplift.

Saturday 5 April is forecast to be the busiest day during this period, with 309,000 travellers passing through DXB, a notable increase from a peak of 292,000 during Eid 2024.

DXB welcomed a record 92.3 million passengers in 2024, marking the busiest-ever year for the airport, and this year is looking to be even busier with more than 94 million passengers expected in 2025, Paul Griffiths, Dubai Airports CEO, has said. 

309,000 passengers to hit DXB on 5 April

Sharjah International Airport is also expecting an Eid rush, with more than half a million passengers anticipated to use the airport between 27 March and 6 April. 

This surge in UAE passenger numbers is largely due to Eid 2025 coinciding with the two-week school spring break, boosting demand for both domestic and international travel.

More residents are travelling overseas for Eid Al Fitr this year, with a staggering 90% making international bookings, up from 60% in 2024, according to Dnata Travel. 

Demand is high for travel to India, Pakistan and the UK, as residents return home to visit family and friends, while popular leisure destinations include Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Türkiye, Mauritius and Italy.

Cities across the Middle East, such as Amman in Jordan and Jeddah in Saudi, are also proving popular.

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To facilitate the Eid rush, Dubai’s flagship carrier Emirates is boosting services between 26 March and 6 April, adding 17 extra flights to four Middle East destinations, including to Amman and Jeddah, as well as between Dubai and Dammam in Saudi and the Dubai-Kuwait route. 

To manage the expected traffic influx this Eid, Dubai Airports has implemented measures to ensure a seamless travel experience. This includes the newly introduced DXB Express Maps, which provide real-time navigation across terminals, so travellers can locate gates, dining options and other facilities simply by scanning a QR code on flight information screens. 

Dubai Airports and Sharjah Airport Authority have both advised passengers to arrive at least three hours before their flight and smart check-in options. 

For more information, visit www.dubaiairports.ae and www.sharjahairport.ae 

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