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Dubai Airports said in a statement that Dubai International Airport welcomed 31.5 million guests during the first six months of 2026. The operator reported that the second quarter accounted for 13 million of that total, with traffic building from 3.5 million passengers in April to 4.5 million in May and 5 million in June. According to the statement, the first-half figure reflected a 31.3 percent drop compared with the same period in 2025.
The statement placed aircraft movements at 150,600 for the January-to-June period, a 32.1 percent year-on-year decline that included 62,500 movements in the second quarter. Cargo throughput reached 751,340 tonnes across the first half, down 28.7 percent from a year earlier, with 351,716 tonnes recorded in the three months to June. Baggage volumes stood at 30.3 million pieces for the half, 28 percent lower than the prior year, the operator added.
Dubai Airports reported a mishandled baggage rate of 2.7 per 1,000 passengers, markedly below the global average of 4.9. The statement highlighted that 98.98 percent of departing passengers cleared passport control in less than 10 minutes while 98.95 percent of arriving passengers did so in under 15 minutes. Security screening cleared 99.34 percent of travelers in fewer than five minutes.
By the end of the first half nearly 50 international airlines were serving the airport with connections to 217 destinations in 99 countries, Dubai Airports said. Load factors strengthened during the period and approached levels recorded in 2025 as carriers restored capacity. The operator noted that investments in biometric systems, expanded self-service kiosks and consolidated remote departure facilities continued throughout the six months.
Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, said in the statement that the first half of the year tested every part of the operation yet the airport stood well placed for returning demand. He pointed to the steady restoration of airline networks and improving connectivity as factors supporting the second-quarter uptick. Griffiths added that stronger momentum was expected in the second half driven by seasonal schedules and major events in Dubai.
An earlier Dubai Airports release placed the airport’s full-year 2025 passenger total at a record 95.2 million, up 3.1 percent from the year before. Griffiths told The National that the hub is now projected to handle around 70 million passengers in 2026 with the target of 100 million annual travelers deferred to 2027. Reuters reported that the first-half decline followed the outbreak of conflict with Iran on February 28 that triggered extensive airspace restrictions across the Gulf.
Dubai Airports said the airport has recovered to roughly 86 percent of pre-disruption capacity with new routes added on a weekly basis. Griffiths expressed confidence that the facility would retain its status as the world’s busiest airport for international passengers by the end of 2026 despite the temporary drop in rankings. The operator indicated that easing travel advisories and rising transfer traffic would support further gains in the final months of the year.
