Dubai International Airport Sees Steady Recovery with 31.5 Million Passengers in H1 2026

Dubai International Airport (DXB) handled 31.5 million passengers during the first six months of 2026, highlighting a gradual recovery in air traffic after a challenging start to the year. Passenger numbers were down 31.3% compared with the same period in 2025, largely due to regional airspace restrictions that affected airline operations and international connectivity.

However, traffic showed a clear improvement during the second quarter. Passenger volumes increased from 3.5 million in April to 4.5 million in May and 5 million in June, taking the Q2 total to 13 million. Dubai Airports said the steady return of international airlines, improved connectivity and stronger load factors indicate growing demand as the aviation sector recovers.

By the end of June, almost 50 international airlines were serving DXB, connecting Dubai with 217 destinations across 99 countries. Aircraft movements stood at 150,600 during the first half, down 32.1% year-on-year, while cargo volumes reached 751,340 tonnes.

The airport also maintained strong passenger-processing performance. More than 98% of departing passengers cleared passport control within 10 minutes, while 99.34% passed through security in under five minutes.

Dubai Airports expects stronger momentum in the second half of the year as airline networks and frequencies recover, international transfer traffic increases and travel advisories ease. The airport is also looking ahead to the winter schedule and Dubai’s busy calendar of business, leisure and sporting events.