Annual Target Cut to 70 Million Passengers as Flight Capacity Recovers
Annual passenger traffic across Dubai’s airports is expected to reach 70 million by the end of 2026, revised down from a previous target of 100 million. International travel operators, regional airlines, and local hospitality businesses are tracking the recalibrated operational targets as flight schedules steadily rebuild across the network.
July Passenger Volume Up 26 Percent as Capacity Rebounds to 84 Percent
Passenger volumes reached 6.3 million in July, climbing 26 percent from June as flight availability expanded across major routes. Flight capacity has now recovered to 84 percent of pre-disruption levels, while overall passenger numbers sit at 78 percent. Dubai Airports Chief Executive Officer Paul Griffiths noted that reaching the original 100 million annual passenger target may now conservatively occur by the end of 2027 instead.
The revised projections follow a 31 percent decline in airport passenger traffic documented during the first half of 2026, a period throughout which Dubai Airports retained its full workforce without issuing layoffs.
