Dubai International Airport Sets Record With 24.2 Million Passengers

Dubai International Airport recorded 24.2 million passengers between July and September 2025, its busiest quarter on record and a 1.9% year-on-year rise. Total traffic for the first nine months of 2025 reached 70.1 million passengers, up 2.1% year-on-year. Dubai Airports reported handling 115,000 flights in the third quarter, with an average load of 213 passengers per aircraft. Processing times remained low, with 99.6% of departing passengers clearing passport control in under 10 minutes and 99.7% clearing security screening in under 5 minutes. In the first nine months of 2025, the airport handled 63.8 million pieces of baggage, with a reported 99.9% accuracy rate, equating to two bags mishandled per 1,000 passengers. Dubai Airports outlined upgrades across terminals to expand retail, dining and passenger spaces. CB Central in Terminal 3 is set to showcase premium brands, while CB East will add family-focused dining and entertainment, and CB West will provide a new premium shopping area. Within Terminal 1, CD Central in Concourse D will offer panoramic airfield views, refreshed dwell areas, new passenger information and improved access to major retail stores. Looking ahead, Dubai World Central is planned to become the main international gateway by the early 2030s, with a stated ambition to handle up to 260 million passengers annually. India remained the largest country market for Dubai International Airport, with 8.8 million passengers recorded in the first nine months of 2025. Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom followed. London led all city destinations with 2.8 million guests over the same period.