Dubai International has served 1.5 billion passengers since opening in 1960

Dubai International Airport, also known as DXB, has welcomed 1.5 billion passengers since its opening in 1960, as reported by the Government of Dubai Media Office on Friday. This milestone was discussed during the second session of the office's International Media Briefings, where Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, addressed the resilience of Dubai's aviation sector and future development plans.

In the first half of 2026, DXB handled 31.5 million passengers, with monthly traffic increasing from 5 million in June to 6.3 million in July, a 26% surge in a single month. Airport capacity has recovered to 84% of pre-pandemic levels, and passenger traffic to 78%. Griffiths anticipates Dubai International to handle around 70 million passengers in 2026, with annual traffic potentially reaching 100 million by the end of 2027 as capacity and demand recover.

Al Maktoum International Airport, Dubai's new major hub, is set to commence operations by the start of the next decade, with a projected capacity of 150 million passengers annually. The airport will eventually expand to 260 million passengers annually, featuring five runways. The transition from DXB to Al Maktoum International will be a gradual process, with airlines like flydubai potentially expanding operations at the new airport starting next year.

The development of Al Maktoum International is designed to create a "queue-free" passenger experience, leveraging technology and artificial intelligence to streamline processes.