Dubai International Airport (DXB) welcomed a record-breaking 92.3 million passengers in 2024, marking an annual growth of nearly 6 per cent. The numbers surpassed DXB’s pre-pandemic peak of 89.1 million passengers in 2018 and exceeded the airport’s earlier forecast of 91.9 million travelers for the year.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, called DXB “the airport of the world” in a post on X, highlighting its pivotal role in reshaping the aviation sector. Dubai Airports, backed by the government, announced plans to invest Dh128 billion ($34.8 billion) over the next decade to redefine global aviation standards.

Throughout 2024, DXB recorded 300,000 flight movements, connecting 272 cities across 107 countries through 106 airline partners. December emerged as the busiest month, with 8.2 million passengers, according to the Dubai Media Office.

Dubai’s tourism sector also saw remarkable growth, welcoming nearly 17 million international visitors in the first 11 months of the year, with Western Europe, South Asia, and the Gulf leading as key source markets. London topped the list of city destinations with 3.9 million passengers, followed by Riyadh and Mumbai.

Meanwhile, Emirates airline, DXB’s flagship carrier, expressed optimism for sustained travel demand into 2025, supported by fleet expansion and increased capacity.

Looking ahead, Dubai is also expanding its second airport, Al Maktoum International (DWC), with a $35 billion terminal project. Once completed, DWC will have the capacity to handle 260 million passengers a year, up from its current 32.5 million.

With its focus on tourism, aviation, and trade, Dubai is confident about hitting 100 million annual passengers by 2027, said Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths. He added that ongoing infrastructure upgrades aim to redefine the travel experience for the millions of passengers passing through the emirate.