Dubai airport loses 31.3% of travelers in first half of 2026

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Dubai airport loses 31.3% of travelers in first half of 2026: operator

August 26, 2026

DUBAI,— Passenger numbers at Dubai International Airport dropped 31.3% in the first half of this year, the facility’s operator said Wednesday, as the war involving Iran badly hurt air travel across the Gulf region, including at the busy hub.

The DXB airport handled 13 million travelers in the second quarter alone, bringing total passenger traffic for the first six months to 31.5 million, Dubai Airports said in a statement.

That marks a steep decline from the 46 million passengers recorded during the same stretch last year.

Flight movements reached 150,600 in the first half of the year, a drop of 32.1% compared to the previous year, the operator noted.

The war, which broke out on February 28, 2026, has caused major disruption to the aviation industry throughout the year.

Airlines have canceled, delayed and rerouted flights, and the impact has spread well past the Gulf as rising fuel costs squeezed carriers worldwide.

Major airlines based in the Middle East, among the largest in the world, have had their operations disrupted by the fighting but have slowly returned to normal schedules.

Emirates chief Tim Clark said last month that his airline was operating at 90% of its usual capacity.

Even so, several large international carriers, including Lufthansa, British Airways and Singapore Airlines, remain hesitant and have kept suspensions in place on a number of routes serving the region.

Dubai Airports said the airport has proven resilient, pointing to returning capacity and ongoing investment in operations.

The company said growing airline connections, improving links and stronger passenger numbers point to lasting demand and rising confidence heading into the year’s typically busier final months.

Before the conflict began, Dubai Airports had projected nearly 100 million passengers for the year.

Separately, Dubai has lost its long-held position as the world’s top airport. New figures show Incheon International Airport in South Korea has overtaken it as the busiest airport globally for international travel.

(With files from Reuters)