DXB Handled 6M Passengers During Middle East Airspace Crisis

Dubai International Airport has emerged from one of the most challenging periods in its history, maintaining operations throughout a significant regional airspace disruption while handling 6 million passenger journeys, over 32,000 aircraft movements, and 213,000 tonnes of cargo between February 28 and April 30.

With UAE airspace now fully restored, Dubai Airports has shifted into recovery mode, ramping up daily flight movements and working with airline partners to progressively restore schedules. Remaining constraints are tied primarily to the availability of regional flight paths outside the UAE rather than within it.

The disruption left a clear mark on Q1 2026 traffic figures. DXB welcomed 18.6 million guests in the first quarter — down 20.6% year on year — with March bearing the brunt of the impact, recording just 2.5 million passengers, a 65.7% decline compared to the same month in 2025. Cargo volumes fell 22.7% to 399,600 tonnes, and aircraft movements dropped 20.8% to 88,000.

Despite the sharp decline, DXB's performance through the crisis underlined the airport's operational resilience. Close coordination across the airport community — including Emirates and flydubai, ground handlers, and aviation authorities — kept the hub functioning safely under continuously shifting conditions.

The stakes were high. DXB handles 32% of all transfer traffic routing through the Middle East, a region that captures around 70% of the 99.3 million annual passengers whose journeys could pass through it. CEO Paul Griffiths described the events as unprecedented for a hub of DXB's scale, and said the airport's response has sharpened its ability to adapt quickly — a capability that will serve it well as demand returns.

India remained DXB's largest country market with 2.5 million guests in Q1, followed by Saudi Arabia, the UK, and Pakistan. London was the busiest city route with 752,000 passengers. Looking ahead, Dubai Airports says its long-term outlook remains strong, with ongoing expansion at Dubai World Central — Al Maktoum International continuing to support the emirate's future aviation ambitions.