Dubai Airport Passenger Numbers Plunge as Iran Conflict Reshapes Air Travel

Dubai International Airport, a critical global aviation hub, has reported a significant downturn in passenger traffic for the second quarter of 2025, attributing the decline to the ongoing conflict with Iran. The airport recorded 13 million passengers in the April-to-June period, contributing to a first-half total of 31.5 million. This represents a 31.3% decrease compared to the same period last year.

The war, which began with attacks on Iran on February 28, led to widespread shutdowns and flight restrictions across the Gulf region. Dubai International itself sustained minor damage from Iranian strikes, further complicating operations. Aircraft movements also fell sharply, with 150,600 total movements in the first half—a 32.1% year-on-year drop—with only 62,500 of those occurring in the second quarter.

Despite the challenging environment, CEO Paul Griffiths pointed to a positive trend, noting that passenger volumes increased steadily each month during the second quarter. "The events of the disruption, which lasted two months, that had an impact on traffic," Griffiths said. "However, the trajectory now is universally positive."

The airport is now awaiting the return of overseas carriers, particularly from Europe, to resume full operations. Griffiths expressed confidence in a swift recovery, stating, "I'm very confident we'll be back to full operation in a very short space of time."