Dubai International Airport (DXB) has served 1.5 billion passengers since it opened in 1960, a milestone underscoring its position as one of the world's busiest international aviation hubs, Dubai Airports said this week.

The figure was disclosed during the second session of the Government of Dubai Media Office's International Media Briefings, which featured Dubai Airports Chief Executive Officer Paul Griffiths discussing the resilience of the emirate's aviation sector and its long-term development plans, according to Emirati Times.

DXB handled 31.5 million passengers in the first half of 2026, with monthly traffic rising from 5 million in June to 6.3 million in July. Griffiths said the growth reflected sustained demand for Dubai as both a destination and a global transit hub, and the airport expects to handle around 70 million passengers this year.

Griffiths also detailed progress on Al Maktoum International Airport, where the first major phase is due to become operational at the start of the next decade with capacity for 150 million passengers a year. The fully developed airport is planned to eventually accommodate up to 260 million passengers annually, while a second runway is expected to open by the end of 2027.

The shift from DXB to Al Maktoum International will happen gradually as new capacity comes online, with the wider transition expected to unfold in phases over several months. Flydubai could be among the first carriers to expand at the new airport, potentially relocating five or six aircraft from DXB starting next year.

Griffiths said the new airport would allow Dubai to redesign the passenger journey using facial recognition, artificial intelligence, and other technologies, aiming for a more seamless, "queue-free" experience with reduced traditional processing. He added that Dubai Airports is in talks with airlines over new direct routes, particularly links between Dubai and cities in Europe and Africa.

Source: Emirati Times