It’s just had a record-breaking year
Dubai Airport Set to Break Records in 2026 – But a Move May Be Inevitable
Dubai International Airport (DXB) has long been one of the world’s busiest airports, handling over 90 million passengers annually in recent years. In 2025, DXB welcomed 95.2 million guests, marking its busiest year ever and setting the highest international passenger traffic record globally.
The airport shattered records across the board last year, logging its busiest day, month, quarter, and year, and it’s expected to break its annual record again in 2026, with traffic projected to reach 99.5 million passengers.
Despite operating at the edge of physical capacity, DXB continues to deliver exceptional performance. However, airport officials have stressed that the continued growth highlights the need for a new transport hub in the future to accommodate rising demand and maintain operational efficiency.
Dubai Airport to Break Records Again in 2026, With Major Transition Planned for 2032
Dubai International Airport (DXB) has cemented its position as one of the world’s busiest airports. In 2025, it welcomed 95.2 million passengers, setting the highest international traffic record ever and breaking daily, monthly, quarterly, and yearly milestones. Traffic is expected to rise further in 2026, with projections reaching 99.5 million passengers.
Speaking at last year’s Dubai Airshow, Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths explained that once DXB reaches maximum capacity, operations will gradually transition to Al Maktoum International Airport, with a full transfer expected by 2032. “Within two years, we’ll cross that 100 million mark, and by 2031, we’re looking at 114 million people passing through DXB. Then in 2032, we’ll achieve the world’s largest transition from the world’s largest airport—a major milestone,” Griffiths said.
A media release on February 11 highlighted that while DXB is operating near full capacity, airport authorities are carefully managing operations. Demand continues to grow alongside record-breaking tourism, and DXB remains a global hub, connecting 291 destinations across 110 countries via 108 international airlines.
Dubai International Airport to Break Records in 2026, With Transition to Al Maktoum on the Horizon
Dubai International Airport (DXB) has firmly established itself as one of the world’s busiest airports. In 2025, it welcomed 95.2 million passengers, setting the highest international traffic record ever and breaking daily, monthly, quarterly, and yearly milestones. Traffic is expected to rise further in 2026, with projections reaching 99.5 million passengers.
Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths has outlined the long-term plan: once DXB reaches maximum capacity, operations will gradually transition to Al Maktoum International Airport at Dubai South. The revamped Al Maktoum hub is expected to eventually handle 260 million passengers annually, though the full megaproject is unlikely to be completed until 2057. Griffiths noted that operating two major hubs in such close proximity “makes little sense,” and keeping DXB open would not be economically viable.
For now, DXB continues to operate at extremely high levels, with millions of passengers passing through each month. December 2025 marked the busiest month in the airport’s history, with 8.7 million guests—up 6.1% year-on-year—while the fourth quarter saw 25.1 million passengers, an increase of 5.9% from 2024.
Reflecting on the record-breaking year, Griffiths 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. That consistency at scale reflects the maturity of the system and the strength of collaboration across our oneDXB airport community to deliver excellence under growing demand.”
