Dubai International Airport registers 70.1 million passengers in 2025

Dubai International Airport (DXB), the world’s busiest airport for international travel, has welcomed about 70.1 million passengers between January and September this year, according to officials.

The third quarter (July–September) was particularly strong, with DXB handling 24.2 million travellers, marking the busiest quarter in its 65-year history and a 1.9% increase compared to the same period last year. This surge helped raise the year-to-date passenger count by 2.1% compared with 2024.

Aircraft operations also remained robust. Over the first nine months of the year, DXB recorded 336,000 flights, a 2.7% increase compared with the previous year. On average, each flight carried around 213 passengers.

Operational efficiency at DXB has also seen high marks. Nearly 99.6% of departing passengers cleared passport control in under 10 minutes in Q3, and 99.8% of arrivals waited less than 15 minutes. Security screening remained fast too — 99.7% of travellers were processed in under five minutes.

On the baggage front, DXB handled 63.8 million bags in the first nine months — a 6.2% year-on-year increase, reaching a new high for this period. Impressively, 90% of bags reached passengers within 45 minutes of arrival, and baggage-handling accuracy stood at 99.9%, which translates to just two mishandled bags per 1,000 travellers.

India held its place as DXB’s top source market, with 8.8 million passengers flying via the airport during the period. Other leading country markets included Saudi Arabia (5.5 million), the UK (4.6 million), Pakistan (3.2 million), and the U.S. (2.4 million).

Looking ahead, Dubai Airports is doubling down on expansion plans. The $35 billion project to develop Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) aims to create a massive, five-runway facility in Dubai World Central. The vision for DWC isn’t just about capacity — Dubai Airports says it’s about “reimagining and evolving the entire travel experience.”