Dubai International Airport (DXB) welcomed 95.2 million guests in 2025, up 3.1% year on year, marking the busiest year in the airport’s history and the highest annual international passenger traffic ever recorded by any airport.
In addition, DXB also set records for its busiest day, month, and quarter, along with seeing record flight movements and the airport’s highest-ever baggage volumes successfully handled.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, took to social media to share the proud moment.
Record Traffic
December 2025 closed as the busiest month in DXB history, with 8.7 million guests, up 6.1% year on year. Total flight movements reached 118,000 in Q4, up 5%, bringing the annual total to 454,800, a rise of 3.3% year on year.
Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, said, "Airports are often defined by moments of intensity, but long-term performance is defined by how well those moments are sustained. In 2025, DXB showed that record traffic is no longer an exception, but part of its operating reality. We expect traffic to approach 99.5 million in 2026, supported by close coordination across the sector and the oneDXB community.”
Shorter Waiting Times
DXB operated consistently and delivered excellent guest experience in 2025. Guest processing times remained stable at scale, with 99.35% of guests experiencing waiting times of less than 10 minutes at departure passport control, while 98.8% waited under 15 minutes at arrival passport control. Security check waiting times remained below 5 minutes for 98.9% of guests.
DXB also efficiently managed 86.75 million bags in 2025, a 4.95% year-on-year increase, marking the highest ever baggage volume handled during a calendar year. Besides, 89% of all arriving baggage was delivered to guests within 45 minutes of arrival.
In addition, DXB also continued to deliver world-class mishandled baggage performance at 99.75%, translating to 2.47 mishandled bags per 1,000 guests.
India Leads As Top Market
India retained its position as DXB’s largest country market with 11.9 million guests. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia followed with 7.5 million, the United Kingdom at 6.3 million, Pakistan at 4.3 million, and the United States at 3.3 million.
Traffic between Dubai and some routes posted particularly strong growth. Traffic between China and Dubai increased to 2.5 million, followed by Russia at 2.8 million, Turkey at 2.2 million, Egypt at 1.8 million, and Italy climbed at 1.6 million.
London remained DXB’s busiest city destination with 3.9 million guests, followed by Riyadh at 3 million, Mumbai and Jeddah at 2.4 million each, and New Delhi at 2.2 million.
By the end of 2025, DXB was connected to 291 destinations across 110 countries, served by 108 international airlines.
With demand continuing to build and capacity carefully managed, Dubai’s airports are entering a phase where performance is defined not by how high it can surge, but by how reliably it can sustain growth while consistently delivering a superior guest experience.
As traffic patterns evolve, the complementary role of Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) will continue to expand, ensuring the emirate remains prepared for the next era of global aviation.