'Dubai won't lose the crown': Airport chief vows it will remain world's busiest

Dubai International Airport (DXB) is confident it will maintain its title as the world's busiest international airport despite a sharp drop in passenger traffic due to the Iran war. In the second quarter, passenger volumes fell to 13 million, down from 22.5 million in the same period last year. However, management expects a strong recovery in the second half of the year as more airlines resume services and Gulf hubs remain a crucial part of global transit traffic.

DXB has been the world's busiest airport for passengers for 12 consecutive years and aims to keep the top spot. The airport is projected to handle around 70 million passengers by the end of 2026, instead of the original target of 100 million in 2027, but remains optimistic about the recovery by Q3. Major airlines such as Lufthansa and Singapore Airlines have suspended some routes and redeployed capacity elsewhere, but officials remain confident in the airport's resilience and the region's importance in global aviation.