Like a crossroads where continents meet in motion, Dubai’s skies pulsed with record-setting rhythm in 2025.
India Leads as DXB Breaks Records
Dubai International Airport (DXB) handled 95.2 million passengers in 2025, marking a 3.1% year-on-year increase and cementing its status as one of the world’s busiest global hubs. India retained its position as DXB’s largest country market, contributing 11.9 million passengers during the year.
“More significantly, 2025 was defined not by a single peak, but by sustained performance at record levels. DXB achieved its busiest day, month, quarter and year on record, operating at the edge of physical capacity while consistently delivering operational excellence. What would represent extraordinary strain elsewhere has become part of DXB’s normal operating rhythm,” the airport said.
December 2025 became the busiest month in DXB’s history, welcoming 8.7 million passengers, up 6.1% year-on-year. The fourth quarter also set a record at 25.1 million passengers, a 5.9% rise over the same period in 2024.
Total flight movements reached 118,000 in Q4, up 5%, bringing the annual tally to 454,800 movements—an increase of 3.3%. Despite higher traffic, average passengers per movement remained robust at 214, reflecting larger aircraft deployment and strong load efficiency. The annual load factor stood at 77.6%, only marginally lower by 0.5 percentage points.
Top Markets and Expanding Reach
Following India, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia accounted for 7.5 million passengers, the United Kingdom 6.3 million, Pakistan 4.3 million, and the United States 3.3 million.
High-growth markets included China (up 16.6% to 2.5 million), Egypt (14.3% to 1.8 million), Italy (12.5% to 1.6 million), Turkey (6.7% to 2.2 million), and Russia (6% to 2.8 million).
Among city routes, London led with 3.9 million passengers, followed by Riyadh (3.0 million), Mumbai (2.4 million), Jeddah (2.4 million), and New Delhi (2.2 million).
By year-end, DXB connected travellers to 291 destinations across 110 countries, served by 108 international airlines—underscoring its unmatched global connectivity.
In the ceaseless choreography of departures and arrivals, DXB proved that even at full stretch, it can still rise higher.
Summary
Dubai International Airport handled 95.2 million passengers in 2025, up 3.1%, with India remaining its largest market at 11.9 million travellers. December and Q4 set all-time records. The airport logged 454,800 annual flight movements and maintained strong load efficiency. DXB connected 291 destinations across 110 countries, reinforcing its global hub status.
