Dubai Airport CEO insists hub status intact despite 31% traffic plunge from war
Dubai International Airport handled 31.5 million passengers in the first half of 2026, a 31.3% drop from the same period last year, as the Iran war disrupted Gulf aviation. CEO Paul Griffiths said traffic has recovered to about 80% of last year's level and expects full recovery by year-end, though full-year totals will fall short of the record 95.2 million passengers in 2025. Competitors like Seoul and Singapore gained transfer traffic during the crisis, but Griffiths believes much of that shift will prove temporary.
The first-half decline follows a record-breaking 2025, when DXB handled 95.2 million international passengers, the most ever for any airport. Monthly figures bottomed out at 3.5 million in April before climbing to 5 million by June, with aircraft movements and cargo also down roughly a third. During the crisis, the airport faced 111 ballistic alerts and used a “splash and dash” procedure—planes refueling at Al Maktoum International, 40 kilometers away—when fuel supply was disrupted. The $35 billion expansion of Al Maktoum continues, with upgrades to biometric and self-service systems prioritized over strategic changes.
The traffic plunge may ripple beyond aviation, affecting tourism, logistics, and business travel across the Gulf. Travelers and shippers who shifted to Seoul, Singapore, or Istanbul could develop lasting preferences if Dubai’s recovery stalls, though high load factors suggest resilience. Local jobs and government revenue tied to aviation may feel pressure until full-year numbers normalize, while prolonged advisories could keep some cautious travelers away even after services resume.