Dubai International (DXB) has set a new benchmark in global aviation, welcoming 92.3 million guests in 2024, the highest annual traffic ever recorded in its history. This milestone surpasses the previous record of 89.1 million the airport achieved in 2018 and coincides with a landmark achievement, a decade of leading the Airports Council International’s (ACI) list of the world’s busiest international airports.
“Dubai International (DXB) is a global success story that reflects the UAE’s ability to transform bold ambitions into reality. Consistently ranked as the world’s busiest airport for international passengers, its record annual passenger traffic this year is a testament to the relentless pursuit of innovation and excellence that continues to shape the UAE’s progress,” stated His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
December emerges as busiest month
DXB’s record-breaking performance was driven by sustained growth throughout the year, capped by an extraordinary final quarter that highlighted Dubai’s magnetic appeal as a global destination for travel, business and investment.
December emerged as the busiest month of 2024, with 8.2 million guests choosing DXB as their gateway and destination, reaffirming its position as the airport of choice for millions worldwide.
“Our sustained investment in enhancing the airport’s capabilities contributes to our ability to achieve ambitious goals such as the Dubai Economic Agenda D33’s targets of becoming one of the world’s top five logistics hubs and doubling foreign trade by expanding connections to 400 new cities globally,” added Sheikh Mohammed.
DXB targets 100 million annual guests by 2027
“This year’s results exceeded our forecast by almost 200,000 in guest numbers, underscoring the strength of DXB’s global appeal. Looking ahead, we are confident in reaching the milestone of 100 million annual guests by 2027,” said Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports.
Griffiths added that the $35 billion expansion plans for Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International (DWC) will ensure the airport not only accommodates this growth but also allows Dubai Airports to redefine what it means to travel.
“This mega-project will give us the opportunity to incorporate the latest thinking in 21st Century airport design, gleaned from delivering the very best service to the more than 700 million customers that have passed through DXB over the last decade. We will ensure that the experience gained from 10 years as the world’s largest international airport will make Dubai an even more compelling destination,” he added.
Airport connects to 272 destinations globally
With connections to 272 destinations across 107 countries served by 106 international airlines, DXB continues to set the standard as one of the world’s most connected airports. DXB handled 2.2 million tons of cargo during 2024, a sharp increase of 20.5 percent from last year when the hub registered 1.8 million tonnes in annual cargo.
The number of all flight movements increased by 5.7 percent in 2024 to reach 440,300, with a load factor of 78.1, a marginal growth of 0.3 percent for the year.
DXB also achieved an incredible milestone in 2024 by handling 81.2 million bags while maintaining an industry-leading success rate of 99.45 percent. This translates to just 5.5 mishandled bags per 1,000 guests, beating the international standard of 6.9 bags/1000 guests as reported by SITA.
Despite the massive surge in guest numbers, 98.2 percent of guests waited less than 10 minutes at departure passport control and 99.2 percent of guests waited under five minutes at security.
DXB welcomes over 700 million guests in 10 years
Since 2014, DXB has led the ACI rankings as the world’s busiest international airport. Over the past decade, it has welcomed more than 700 million guests on over 3.3 million flights.
“This achievement isn’t just about numbers, it’s about the people who make it possible –the dedication of our team, the seamless collaboration with our partners, and the trust of the millions of guests who choose DXB year after year. Together, we are shaping the future of air travel,” Griffiths added.
