Dubai Airport traffic falls sharply amid Gulf war, but hub goals stay firm

In early 2026 Dubai International Airport handled 8.7 million passengers in January, but the ensuing Iran war generated 111 ballistic-missile alerts and pushed first-half traffic down to 31.5 million, a 31.3% drop from the same period in 2025. Aircraft movements fell to 150,600 and cargo to 751,340 tons, following a record 95.2 million passengers in 2025. Nevertheless, passenger flow has climbed each month—3.5 million in April, 4.5 million in May, and 5 million in June—lifting overall activity to about 80% of the prior year, with Emirates and flydubai operating near 90% of 2025 levels.

Griffiths projects a full recovery by the end of the year and stresses that the airport’s expansion plans, including the $35 billion Al Maktoum project slated for 2032, remain on schedule. He also noted temporary operational measures such as “splash and dash” refuelling and the use of safe zones during alerts. The CEO affirmed that the conflict has not changed Dubai’s long-term aviation objectives.