DXB Airport Kicks Off 2025 with Record-Breaking Q1 Traffic

Dubai International Airport (DXB) is on fire in 2025 — and the numbers prove it.

The airport welcomed a jaw-dropping 23.4 million passengers in Q1, reflecting a 1.5% increase from the same period last year, despite Q1 2024 already being one for the record books. DXB continues to flex its title as the world’s busiest international airport, and January 2025 now officially holds the crown for the busiest month in DXB history, clocking in at 8.5 million guests.

India led the way among top destination countries, with 3 million travelers, followed by Saudi Arabia (1.9M), the UK (1.5M), Pakistan (1M), and the US (804K). On a city level, London was DXB’s top city, welcoming 935,000 guests, trailed by Riyadh, Jeddah, Mumbai, and New Delhi.

And it wasn’t just business travel — leisure travel saw a major glow-up. Eid holidays, spring break, and winter escapes sent traffic soaring to destinations like:

• Czech Republic (+30.6%)
• Vietnam (+28.6%)
• Spain (+20.2%)

While passenger numbers rose, cargo volumes dipped slightly, with 517,000 tonnes handled — a 3.6% year-on-year decline.

But the real flex? The people behind the numbers. From immigration officers spreading kindness to the DXB Lost & Found team recovering AED 102,000 in 30 minutes, the oneDXB team turned operational wins into emotional moments.

Even His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum gave a shoutout to an immigration officer who let a child say one last goodbye to his mother:

“A salute to whoever brings a smile or joy to a traveller’s heart. This is the Dubai we want.”

Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, summed it up best:

“Delivering the busiest month in DXB’s history while maintaining exceptional service levels... is no small feat. It requires precision, agility, and an extraordinary team effort.”

There were 111,000 flight movements in Q1 (up 1.9%), with a solid average of 215 guests per flight. DXB kept baggage issues nearly nonexistent, mishandling fewer than 2 bags per 1,000 guests, achieving a 99.8% success rate.

Real-time tracking, biometric passport controls, and accessibility enhancements (like services for People of Determination) helped keep wait times low and experiences inclusive.

To top it all off, Dubai Airports won the Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award, while DXB was named the world’s busiest international airport by Airports Council International — for the 11th year in a row.

With 269 destinations in 106 countries, served by 101 international airlines, DXB is proving that 2025 isn’t just off to a flying start — it’s soaring.