Dubai International Airport (DXB) welcomed 24.2 million passengers between July and September 2025, marking the highest quarterly traffic in the airport’s 65-year history. The figure represents a 1.9 per cent increase compared to the same period last year.
The third-quarter performance brought total traffic for the first nine months of 2025 to 70.1 million passengers, a 2.1 per cent increase year-on-year.
The airport’s twelve-month rolling traffic at the end of September reached 93.8 million passengers.
DXB records 24.2 million Q3 passengers as Al Maktoum International preparation continues
Aircraft movements remained at 115,000 flights in the third quarter. Between January and September, DXB handled 336,000 flights across all categories, up 2.7 per cent year-on-year.
The average number of passengers per aircraft at the end of September stood at 213.
Dubai Airports has several projects underway across all terminals. CB Central, a space within Terminal 3, will showcase Dubai’s brands and experiences. CB East will provide a family-friendly space with eateries and entertainment areas.
CB West will offer shopping and dining experiences for passengers. Within Terminal 1, CD Central will feature views of the airfield, dwell areas, passenger information systems, and access to retail stores.
Dubai Airports is preparing Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International (DWC) to take over as the city’s main international gateway in the early 2030s. The facility is being built as a global aviation hub focusing on efficiency, connectivity, and sustainability.
“These record-breaking results reflect the continued strength of Dubaiโs aviation and tourism sectors, and to the collective efforts of our oneDXB airport community. Yet, it also reinforces the importance of what comes next. The vision for DWC goes beyond capacity expansion โ it represents the reimaging and evolution of the entire travel experience. Our goal is not just to grow, but to grow intelligently by combining technology, sustainability, and a superior guest experience, which will shape the future of global travel,” Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports said in a statement.
India remains top market for Dubai International Airport (DXB) with 8.8 million passengers
India retained DXB’s top country market in the first nine months of the year with 8.8 million passengers, followed by Saudi Arabia (5.5 million), the United Kingdom (4.6 million), Pakistan (3.2 million), and the United States (2.4 million).
Among city destinations, London led with 2.8 million passengers, followed by Riyadh (2.3 million), Mumbai (1.8 million), Jeddah (1.7 million), and New Delhi (1.6 million).
DXB served as a gateway for international tourism. Malaysia welcomed 687,000 passengers, Vietnam 493,000, the Czech Republic 341,000, Uzbekistan 312,000, and Denmark 239,000 passengers travelling outbound for leisure.
DXB handled 63.8 million bags in the first nine months of the year, up 6.2 per cent year-on-year. Of these, 90 per cent of bags reached passengers within 45 minutes of the aircraft arriving on the stand. Mishandled baggage remained at 99.9 per cent, equating to two mishandled bags per 1,000 passengers.
During the third quarter, 99.6 per cent of departing passengers cleared passport control in under 10 minutes, and 99.8 per cent of arriving passengers waited less than 15 minutes. Security screening times stayed below 5 minutes for 99.7 per cent of travellers.
