Ruth Haines
Dubai International Airport (DXB) has been named the world's busiest airport for international passengers for two years running, with 92.3 million international passengers in 2024. The airport is strategically located in the Al Garhoud district, 2.54 nautical miles from Dubai's city centre, and functions as Dubai's primary airport. In 2025, Dubai Airport ranked second overall, with 92,331,506 passengers, but when it comes to international travellers, it takes the top spot.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Busiest airport in the world by | International passenger traffic |
| Year | 2024 |
| Number of passengers | 92.3 million |
| Percentage increase from 2023 | 6.1% |
| Percentage increase from 2019 | 7% |
| Ranking by Airports Council International | 1st |
| Total number of flights operated weekly | 8,500+ |
| Number of airlines | 100+ |
| Number of destinations | 270+ |
| Percentage of travellers who are connecting passengers | 50% |
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What You'll Learn
- Dubai International Airport is the world's busiest airport for international passengers
- Dubai Airport is second only to Atlanta Airport when all passengers are counted
- Dubai Airport is the busiest airport in the Middle East
- Dubai Airport is the base for Emirates Airlines and Flydubai
- Dubai Airport is located in the Al Garhoud district, 2.54 nautical miles east of Dubai's city centre
Dubai International Airport is the world's busiest airport for international passengers
Dubai International Airport (DXB) is the world's busiest airport for international passengers. In 2024, the airport handled 92 million passengers, 2.2 million tonnes of cargo, and registered over 440,000 aircraft movements. This marked a 6.1% increase in passenger traffic compared to 2023 and a 7% increase compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2019.
Dubai's airport has maintained its position as the world's busiest for international passenger traffic for the second consecutive year, reinforcing Dubai's role as a global aviation powerhouse. The airport's growth in 2022 outpaced the annual forecast, with annual passenger numbers reaching 66 million. This recovery and robust growth propelled Dubai International Airport to the top spot for international passenger traffic in 2024.
The airport's success is attributed to its strategic location, world-class infrastructure, and role as a major transit hub connecting East and West. Dubai International Airport is also the base for Flydubai, which handles 13% of passenger traffic and 25% of aircraft movements at DXB. Additionally, the availability of longer-range aircraft, such as the Airbus A340 and Boeing 777, has made Dubai a convenient stopping point for airlines travelling between Asia and Europe.
Dubai International Airport's Terminal 3 is the third-largest building in the world by floor space and the largest airport terminal globally. The airport is situated in the Al Garhoud district, 2.54 nautical miles (4.70 km) east of Dubai's city centre and covers an area of 2,900 hectares (7,200 acres). With its impressive infrastructure and efficient operations, Dubai International Airport has solidified its position as the world's busiest airport for international passengers.
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Dubai Airport is second only to Atlanta Airport when all passengers are counted
Dubai International Airport is one of the world's busiest airports. In fact, in terms of international passenger traffic, it is the busiest airport in the world as of 2024. However, when all passengers are counted, Dubai Airport is second only to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, located in metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia, has been the world's busiest airport every year since 1998, with the exception of 2020 when travel restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic caused a dip in passenger traffic. Atlanta quickly regained its top position in 2021 and has held it since. The airport served about 108 million passengers in 2024, a 3.3% increase from 2023, though still about 2% below its 2019 passenger volume.
Dubai International Airport, on the other hand, became the second-busiest airport in the world for the first time in 2023 and retained that position in 2024. The airport handled over 92 million passengers in 2024, a 6.1% increase from the previous year. Dubai Airport is the primary international airport serving Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and is the busiest airport in the Middle East.
Dubai's airport has been strategically designed to be the region's busiest, attracting passengers from the city of Dubai and beyond. The airport is home to Emirates Airlines and Flydubai, which together handle a significant portion of passenger traffic and aircraft movements. With its continuous growth and recovery post-pandemic, Dubai International Airport is expected to remain a key player among the world's busiest airports.
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Dubai Airport is the busiest airport in the Middle East
Dubai International Airport (DXB) is the busiest airport in the Middle East and one of the busiest in the world. In 2024, the airport handled over 92 million passengers, an increase of 6.1% from 2023, according to the Airports Council International (ACI). This made it the world's busiest airport for international passenger traffic, with London Heathrow and Incheon International Airport in second and third place, respectively.
Dubai Airport's growth in passenger numbers has been impressive, with a strong recovery and robust growth in its customer base in 2022, reaching 66 million annual passengers. This growth was driven by several factors, including Dubai's strategic location, world-class infrastructure, and role as a major transit hub connecting East and West. The airport is also the base for Flydubai, which handles 13% of passenger traffic and 25% of aircraft movements at DXB.
The airport is situated in the Al Garhoud district, just 2.54 nautical miles (4.7 km) east of the city centre of Dubai. Terminal 3 is the third-largest building in the world by floor space and the largest airport terminal globally. The airport covers an area of 2,900 hectares (7,200 acres) of land.
Dubai International Airport was conceptualised to function as Dubai's primary airport and the region's busiest, without the need for relocation or the construction of another airport as passenger figures increased. The airport has a total capacity of 90 million passengers annually, and as of January 2025, it handles over 8,500 weekly flights operated by more than 100 airlines to over 270 destinations worldwide.
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Dubai Airport is the base for Emirates Airlines and Flydubai
Dubai International Airport (DXB) is the world's busiest airport by international passenger traffic as of 2024, handling over 92 million passengers. It is also the busiest airport for Airbus A380 and Boeing 777 movements and the airport with the highest average number of passengers per flight. The airport is the base for Emirates Airlines and Flydubai. Emirates has its hub airport at DXB and has its own Terminal 3 with three concourses, which it shares with low-cost carrier Flydubai. Emirates handles 51% of all passenger traffic and accounts for approximately 42% of all aircraft movements at the airport. Terminal 3 was built at a cost of $4.5 billion and has a capacity of 65 million passengers. Emirates operates from Concourses A, B, and C, while Flydubai operates from Terminal 2 (Concourse F).
Emirates is the largest airline operating at the airport, with a fleet of over 200 Airbus and Boeing aircraft based at Dubai International Airport. It provides scheduled services to the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, South America, Australia, and New Zealand. Emirates is a full-service carrier that offers all passengers amenities such as a checked baggage allowance and free meals.
Flydubai, on the other hand, is a low-cost carrier that charges extra for baggage and meals. It operates to and from the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and South Asia. In 2018, Emirates and Flydubai formed a partnership that included codesharing, network and schedule alignments, and route swaps, with Flydubai taking over some Emirates flights. Both carriers are owned by the United Arab Emirates government but operate independently.
Dubai International Airport has three terminals in total. Terminals 1 and 3 handle 95% of international flights, while Terminal 2 mainly caters to regional flights and international flights routed to other airports in the Middle East. The airport has a total capacity of 90 million passengers annually and offers flights to over 270 destinations across all inhabited continents.
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Dubai Airport is located in the Al Garhoud district, 2.54 nautical miles east of Dubai's city centre
Dubai International Airport (IATA: DXB, ICAO: OMDB) is the world's busiest airport by international passenger traffic as of 2024. It is also the busiest airport in the Middle East, the second-busiest airport in the world by passenger traffic, and the busiest airport for Airbus A380 and Boeing 777 movements. In 2024, the airport handled over 92 million passengers, over 2.2 million tonnes of cargo, and registered over 440,000 aircraft movements. Terminal 3 is the third-largest building in the world by floor space and the largest airport terminal globally.
Dubai Airport is located in the Al Garhoud district, 2.54 nautical miles (4.70 km or 2.92 miles) east of Dubai's city centre. It is spread over an area of 2,900 hectares (7,200 acres) of land. The airport is about 10 km from Sharjah City Centre and 15 km from Dubai. It is also accessible via the D 89 road.
Dubai International Airport was conceptualised to function as Dubai's primary airport and the region's busiest. The area was chosen to attract passengers from the city of Dubai, instead of them travelling to the busier Sharjah International Airport. The original plan for the airport involved a dual-terminal and one-runway configuration over two phases.
The airport has three terminals and three concourses, with all facilities united by a special metro line. Terminal 3 is connected to Concourse A via a Terminal 3 APM. Concourse B, which is connected to the terminal, includes five aerobridges capable of handling the Airbus A380. Concourse C, a part of Terminal 3, was opened in 2000 and used to be the largest concourse at Dubai International Airport. It includes 50 gates, 28 of which are air bridges, and 22 remote gates located at a lower level.
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Frequently asked questions
Dubai Airport is busiest when measured by international passenger traffic. In 2024, the airport handled 92 million passengers.
Dubai Airport has a total capacity of 90 million passengers annually. In 2024, the airport handled 92.3 million passengers, which was a 6.1% increase from 2023.
Dubai Airport is the busiest airport in the Middle East.
Dubai Airport's busiest year on record was 2024, when it handled 92.3 million passengers.
The pace of expansion at Dubai Airport is expected to slow as markets shift from recovery-driven surges to long-term growth patterns. However, the airport's strategic location, world-class infrastructure, and role as a major transit hub connecting East and West will likely continue to drive its dominance in the aviation industry.
