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Once world’s busiest international hub, Dubai airport sees first-half passenger traffic fall more than 30%
Samira Vishwas | September 4, 2026 12:25 PM CST

The world’s busiest international ‌airport last year welcomed 13 million passengers in the second quarter, bringing the traffic in the first six months of the year to 31.5 million, Dubai Airports said in a statement.

That compared to 46 million ⁠passengers in the same period a year earlier.

Aircraft movements totaled 150,600 during the first half, down 32.1% year on year, it added.

The conflict, which started on Feb. 28, has thrown the aviation sector into turmoil this year, with flights canceled, rescheduled and rerouted and the fallout reaching well beyond the Gulf as soaring jet fuel prices weighed on airlines globally.

Emirates Airline planes are seen at Dubai International Airport in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Feb. 15, 2019. Photo by Reuters

Middle Eastern carriers, some of the world’s biggest, have seen their networks ‌upended ⁠by the conflict, but have gradually resumed their activity. Emirates President Tim Clark said last month the airline was flying at 90% capacity.

However, while more airlines are restoring flights across the Middle East, major carriers including Lufthansa, British Airways and ⁠Singapore Airlines remain cautious and have extended suspensions on a range of routes in the region.

Still, Dubai Airports said the hub had shown resilience, while capacity was ⁠returning and investment continued.

“The steady return of international carriers, improving connectivity and strengthening load factors signal resilient demand across key markets and ⁠growing confidence ahead of DXB’s traditionally busier second half,” it said.

The company had forecast passenger traffic of nearly 100 million passengers this year before the war started.


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