Dubai airport passenger traffic collapses 66% in first month of war
Dubai's main airport, forced to suspend operations several times due to Iranian drone attacks, expects demand to grow after restrictions on flights to the UAE are lifted / Photo: saiko3p/Shutterstock
Dubai International Airport (DXB), the world's largest international air hub, reported a 66% drop in passenger traffic in March as the war in Iran paralyzed air traffic across the Middle East, Bloomberg writes, citing a DXB statement.
This figure reduced total passenger traffic at Dubai Airport for the first quarter of 2026 to 2.5 million, down 21% year-on-year.
Ma's main airport, forced to suspend operations several times due to Iranian drone attacks (notably, on March 15, a drone strike caused a fire at a fuel tank near the airport terminal), is planning a major restoration of operations after the United Arab Emirates lifted restrictions on travel to the country on May 3, 2026.
The DXB did not provide specific forecasts for the year, but noted that it is relying on strong underlying demand.
"Recent experience will enable us to meet growing demand as capacity is restored, strengthening DXB's position as the world's leading air hub," said DXB CEO Paul Griffiths (quoted by Bloomberg).
This article was AI-translated and verified by a human editor
