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Passenger traffic at Dubai International Airport fell dramatically in March, dropping by 66% year on year as regional conflict disrupted airspace and flight operations across the Middle East.
According to a statement from the Dubai Media Office, the airport, widely known as the world’s busiest hub for international passenger traffic, handled just 2.5 million travellers during the month. The sharp decline followed Iran’s attacks on the United Arab Emirates during the broader Middle East war, which led to significant restrictions in regional airspace.
Officials described the situation as a period of disruption that constrained both flight schedules and available routes, effectively limiting the airport’s ability to maintain normal operations. As a major global transit hub connecting Europe, Asia and beyond, Dubai International relies heavily on stable air corridors, making it particularly sensitive to geopolitical tensions.
With airspace across the UAE now fully restored, authorities said operations are being scaled back up. Dubai Airports is increasing flight movements in line with the gradual reopening of regional routes, signaling a phased return to normal activity.
The airport had also been directly affected during the conflict, with multiple drone attacks reported as part of Iran’s retaliation for U.S.-Israeli strikes, further contributing to operational challenges.
The impact of the disruption extended beyond March. Passenger traffic for the first quarter of 2026 fell by 21% compared to the same period last year, reaching 18.6 million travellers.
This downturn marks a notable shift for an airport that handled a record 95.2 million passengers in 2025 and had projected nearly 100 million travellers for 2026 before the escalation in regional tensions.
Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths described the recent developments as highly unusual, stating: “The extraordinary events of the past few weeks are unprecedented for any major airport hub.”
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