Ashhar Alam/New Delhi

Dubai International Airport has once again cemented its position as the world’s busiest aviation hub, handling an unprecedented 95.2 million passengers in 2025, underlining the emirate’s sustained economic momentum and resurgence in global travel.

Officials said the record-breaking numbers reflect Dubai’s rapid post-pandemic recovery, driven by soaring demand for international travel and the city’s growing appeal as a tourism, business and real estate powerhouse. Earlier this week, Dubai reported a 5 per cent rise in tourist arrivals last year, with 19.6 million visitors, marking the third consecutive year of all-time highs.

The state-owned airport remains the backbone of Dubai’s aviation ecosystem and the home base of Emirates airline, the long-haul carrier that anchors the network of government-owned and state-linked enterprises often referred to as “Dubai Inc.”

Calling the milestone a structural shift rather than a one-off achievement, Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths said the figures show that record traffic has become part of the airport’s new operating reality. Passenger volumes climbed steadily in recent years, rising from 86.9 million in 2023 to 92.3 million in 2024, surpassing pre-pandemic levels. For comparison, Dubai International handled 86.3 million passengers in 2019 and 89.1 million in 2018.

Dubai International Airport 

India continued to be the airport’s largest outbound market, accounting for 11.9 million passengers, followed by Saudi Arabia with 7.5 million and the United Kingdom with 6.3 million. Overall, the airport served 108 airlines, connecting Dubai to 291 cities across 110 countries.

READ MORE: Khan Sir’s affordable hospital in Patna becomes lifeline for poor

Dubai’s booming property market and record tourism inflows have transformed the city from a transit hub into a global destination. However, the rapid growth has also intensified pressure on infrastructure, with rising congestion and living costs affecting both Emirati citizens and the expatriate workforce that underpins the economy.

To address future demand, Dubai plans a major shift of airport operations to Al Maktoum International Airport, located about 45 kilometres from the city. Opened in 2010, the facility gained prominence during the pandemic and is now expanding its role in cargo, commercial and private aviation. Authorities aim to complete a roughly USD 35 billion upgrade and relocate operations by 2032, positioning Dubai for its next phase of aviation-led growth.