Dubai International Airport has achieved a remarkable milestone, welcoming 93.8 million passengers so far this year and surpassing its previous annual record, officials announced on Wednesday 19th November 2025.
Record-Breaking Passenger Numbers
The world's busiest airport for international travel has seen extraordinary growth, with this year's figures already exceeding the 92.3 million passengers recorded throughout the entirety of last year. This represents a significant recovery and expansion beyond pre-pandemic levels, where the airport handled 89.1 million passengers in 2018 during its previous busiest year.
Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, emphasised the significance of these results, stating they reflect "the continued strength of Dubai's aviation and tourism sectors." He further highlighted that the record-breaking numbers reinforce the necessity of the emirate's ambitious expansion plans.
$35 Billion Airport Expansion Project
The rapid passenger growth has accelerated Dubai's plans for a massive $35 billion project to develop Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) at Dubai World Central. This new facility will feature five runways and is positioned approximately 45 kilometres (28 miles) from the current Dubai International Airport (DXB).
The expansion coincides with major aircraft orders announced at the Dubai Air Show by both Emirates, the long-haul carrier based at DXB, and its budget sister airline FlyDubai. These substantial purchases will fuel significant route expansion for both state-owned airlines, further cementing Dubai's position as a crucial East-West travel hub.
Future Vision and Urban Development
Griffiths revealed that the vision for DWC extends beyond mere capacity increases, representing "the reimagining and evolution of the entire travel experience." The relocation of airport operations to Al Maktoum is expected to trigger substantial real estate development throughout the sheikhdom, particularly in its southern regions.
Dubai's transformation into both a destination and layover hub has been driven by a robust real estate market and unprecedented tourism numbers. However, this success brings challenges, with the city currently grappling with increasing traffic congestion and rising living costs affecting both Emirati citizens and the foreign residents who form the backbone of its economy.
The passenger growth trajectory shows consistent improvement, rising from 66 million in 2022 to 86.9 million in 2023, before reaching last year's record of 92.3 million. This year's achievement of 93.8 million passengers with several weeks remaining demonstrates Dubai's accelerating recovery and expanding role in global aviation.
