Dubai International Airport set a new record with 44.9 million passengers in the first half of the year, reaffirming its status as the world’s busiest airport for international travel.
This surge in traffic comes as aviation rebounds strongly from the pandemic. The results, announced Wednesday, follow a record-breaking annual profit for Emirates, the long-haul carrier based at DXB, and coincide with Dubai’s plans to develop a nearly $35 billion new airfield over the next decade.
Dubai’s real estate and tourism booms have turned the city-state into a major destination rather than just a layover spot. CEO Paul Griffiths noted a shift in passenger trends: “Before the pandemic, 60% were transiting, now 60% are coming to the city,” he said.
The airport is on track to exceed its previous peak of 89.1 million passengers in 2018, with a forecast of 91.8 million for the year. Meanwhile, Al Maktoum International Airport, set to handle future growth, will eventually support up to 260 million passengers with its planned expansion, addressing the limitations of DXB’s current land space.
Peoplesmind
