Dubai International Airport (DXB) recorded its busiest quarter in history between July and September 2025, handling 24.2 million passengers—a 1.9% increase year-on-year. This strong performance pushed total traffic for the first nine months to 70.1 million travellers, while the airport’s twelve-month rolling figure reached a record 93.8 million passengers.
Aircraft movements also remained strong, with 115,000 flights handled in Q3. Between January and September, DXB processed 336,000 flights across all categories, marking a 2.7% rise compared with the same period last year. Passenger loads averaged 213 travellers per aircraft.
Despite record volumes, DXB maintained exceptional operational efficiency. In the first nine months, the airport handled 63.8 million bags—a 6.2% year-on-year increase—with 99.9% baggage accuracy and 90% of luggage delivered within 45 minutes of arrival. During the third quarter, 99.6% of departing passengers cleared passport control in under 10 minutes, while 99.8% of arriving travellers waited less than 15 minutes. Security checks were completed within five minutes for 99.7% of passengers.
Dubai Airports is now advancing several enhancement projects across its terminals. These include CB Central in Terminal 3, showcasing leading Dubai brands; CB East, a family-friendly dining and entertainment zone; and CB West, featuring premium shopping and relaxed dining. Concourse D’s CD Central is also being refreshed with panoramic airfield views, redesigned dwell areas, and modern passenger information systems.
As DXB continues to grow, Dubai is progressing preparations for Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International (DWC), which is expected to become the emirate’s primary international hub in the early 2030s. The future-ready airport will prioritise smart technology, sustainability, and improved connectivity to redefine the travel experience.
Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, said the record results highlight the strength of Dubai’s aviation and tourism sectors and the collaborative efforts across the airport community. He added that the vision for DWC is not only about expanding capacity but reimagining global air travel through technology, sustainability, and guest-centric innovation.
India remained DXB’s largest market from January to September 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 topped the list with 2.8 million passengers, ahead of Riyadh, Mumbai, Jeddah, and New Delhi. The airport also saw strong outbound travel demand to Malaysia, Vietnam, the Czech Republic, Uzbekistan, and Denmark.