Dubai International Airport, better known as DXB, has spent the past decade redefining what a global aviation hub looks like. With more than 90 million passengers passing through annually in recent years, it has firmly established itself as the world’s busiest airport for international travel.
In 2025, DXB delivered its strongest performance yet, welcoming 95.2 million passengers — the busiest year in its history and the highest international passenger traffic ever recorded by any airport worldwide. It wasn’t just the annual total that stood out. The airport also achieved its busiest day, month, quarter and year on record, highlighting the scale and consistency of demand.
And the momentum isn’t slowing down.
Industry projections indicate that DXB could welcome around 99.5 million passengers in 2026, bringing it within touching distance of the 100 million milestone. For an airport operating close to the limits of its physical footprint, that is a remarkable achievement.
Operating at Full Throttle
DXB is widely considered to be running at the edge of its designed capacity. Surrounded by established residential and commercial districts, the airport has limited room for expansion compared to newer aviation hubs built on open land.
Despite these constraints, it continues to manage growth through efficiency improvements, technology upgrades and close coordination with airlines and service partners. Dubai’s booming tourism industry, alongside its position as a major global transit point between East and West, continues to drive strong passenger numbers.
By the end of 2025, DXB was connected to 291 destinations across 110 countries, served by 108 international airlines. That level of connectivity reinforces its role not just as a gateway to Dubai, but as a central node in global aviation.
December 2025 alone saw 8.7 million passengers, making it the busiest month in the airport’s history — up 6.1 percent year-on-year. The fourth quarter reached 25.1 million passengers, another record-breaking figure.
Airport leadership has stressed that while capacity pressures are real, they are being carefully managed. The consistency of record-breaking traffic, they say, reflects the maturity of DXB’s operating systems and the strength of collaboration across its aviation ecosystem.
Why DXB Will Eventually Close
For all its success, DXB’s long-term future is not indefinite.
Speaking previously at the Dubai Airshow, Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths outlined the airport’s trajectory. Within the next two years, DXB is expected to cross the 100 million passenger mark. By 2031, annual traffic could reach as high as 114 million.
But beyond that, a transition is planned.
Operations will gradually shift to Al Maktoum International Airport, located in Dubai South. The move is expected to reach a major milestone around 2032, in what Griffiths described as the “world’s largest transition” — from the world’s busiest international airport to what is set to become the world’s largest airport overall.
The reasoning is straightforward: space and scalability.
DXB simply cannot expand much further due to its urban surroundings. In contrast, Al Maktoum International Airport has been designed with long-term growth in mind. Once fully developed — a project timeline extending toward 2057 — it is expected to handle up to 260 million passengers annually, nearly three times DXB’s current throughput.
A Gradual Transition, Not an Overnight Closure
The closure of DXB will not happen suddenly. The shift to Al Maktoum International Airport will take place in phases over several years. Infrastructure development, airline relocations and operational adjustments will all require careful coordination.
However, Griffiths has previously noted that operating two mega international hubs in such close proximity makes little economic sense in the long term. Eventually, once Al Maktoum reaches full operational capability, DXB will cease passenger operations.
Until then, DXB remains the beating heart of Dubai’s aviation network.
A Defining Moment in Aviation History
If projections hold true, 2026 could mark another historic year for Dubai International Airport. Surpassing 99 million passengers would solidify its status as the undisputed leader in international traffic — all while functioning within tight spatial limits.
Few airports in the world have managed sustained growth at this scale, especially while operating at near-capacity. That consistency has become part of DXB’s identity.
For residents and travellers, the coming years represent a fascinating transition period. DXB will continue to set records and handle extraordinary passenger volumes, even as the groundwork is laid for a new era of aviation at Al Maktoum International Airport.
When the eventual transition happens, it will mark the end of one chapter and the beginning of another — not just for Dubai, but for global aviation as a whole.
Until that milestone arrives, DXB’s run at the top is far from over. 2026 may well prove that its record-breaking era still has one more peak to reach.
FAQs
Dubai International Airport (DXB) is projected to welcome around 99.5 million passengers in 2026, potentially breaking its previous annual record.
DXB is operating close to its physical capacity and cannot expand significantly. Operations will eventually shift to Al Maktoum International Airport, which offers far greater long-term capacity
A major transition is expected around 2032, although the full development of Al Maktoum International Airport will continue into the 2050s.
DXB connects passengers to 291 destinations across 110 countries, served by more than 100 international airlines.
Once fully completed, Al Maktoum International Airport is expected to handle up to 260 million passengers annually, making it the world’s largest airport by capacity.
Read More:
- Terminal 1 Dining Guide: Restaurants in Concourse D at Dubai Airport
- Dubai Airport Terminal 1: Best Lounges in Concourse D
- Concourse B Food Guide: Restaurants at DXB Terminal 3
- Dubai Airport Terminal 3: Must-Try Restaurants in Concourse A
- Concourse C Dining: Best Restaurants at Dubai International Airport
