Dubai International Airport (IATA: DXB, ICAO: OMDB) is the principal international airport serving Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. It is the home hub of Emirates and an important base for flydubai. The airport handled 95,192,160 passengers in 2025, making it the world's second-busiest airport by total passengers and the busiest by international passenger traffic according to Airports Council International.[1]World's busiest airports: final 2025 rankingsAirports Council International World · aci.aero · Accessed 2026-08-29Open source details[2]DXB sets global benchmark as record traffic becomes the normDubai Airports · media.dubaiairports.ae · Accessed 2026-08-29Open source details
Location and role
The aerodrome reference point is 2.5 nautical miles east of Dubai at an elevation of 62 ft. The airport is embedded within the urban area on the Deira side of Dubai Creek, placing it close to the city but limiting the space available for further runway and terminal expansion. The current UAE Aeronautical Information Publication classifies DXB as an IATA Level 3 slot-coordinated airport.[3]OMDB — Dubai InternationalUAE General Civil Aviation Authority · gcaa.gov.ae · Accessed 2026-08-29Open source details
Dubai Airports reported that the 2025 network linked DXB with 291 destinations in 110 countries through 108 international carriers. Its geographic position and the connecting networks of Emirates and flydubai give the airport a large proportion of transfer traffic as well as traffic beginning or ending in Dubai.[4]Dubai Airports fact fileDubai Airports · media.dubaiairports.ae · Accessed 2026-08-29Open source details[5]Dubai InternationalEmirates · emirates.com · Accessed 2026-08-29Open source details
History
Construction began in 1959 on the order of Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum. The first airport consisted of an approximately 1,800 m compacted-sand runway, an apron, a fire station and a small terminal. It officially opened on 30 September 1960 and could accept aircraft up to the size of the Douglas DC-3.[6]Who we are and airport historyDubai Airports · dubaiairports.ae · Accessed 2026-08-29Open source details[7]Dubai Airports marks 60 years of future forward at DXBDubai Airports · media.dubaiairports.ae · Accessed 2026-08-29Open source details
Work on an asphalt runway began in 1963 and the new runway opened in 1965. A second runway entered service in April 1984. The opening of Terminal 2 in 1998 and the Sheikh Rashid Terminal, now Concourse C, in 2000 increased the airport's passenger-handling capacity as Dubai's airline network expanded.[6]Who we are and airport historyDubai Airports · dubaiairports.ae · Accessed 2026-08-29Open source details
Dubai Airports was formed in 2007 when the former Department of Civil Aviation was restructured into an airport operator and the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority. Terminal 3 and Concourse B opened in 2008 for Emirates, raising stated airport capacity to 60 million passengers a year. Concourse A, purpose-built for Airbus A380 operations, opened in 2013, followed by Concourse D for Terminal 1 airlines in 2016.[6]Who we are and airport historyDubai Airports · dubaiairports.ae · Accessed 2026-08-29Open source details[8]Terminal 3Dubai Airports · media.dubaiairports.ae · Accessed 2026-08-29Open source details
DXB became the world's busiest airport for international passengers in 2014, when it handled 70.4 million passengers, and welcomed its billionth international passenger in December 2018. Passenger operations were partially suspended in March 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic; Terminal 1 and Concourse D reopened in June 2021. The airport returned to record traffic thereafter and retained the international-passenger ranking in 2025.[6]Who we are and airport historyDubai Airports · dubaiairports.ae · Accessed 2026-08-29Open source details[1]World's busiest airports: final 2025 rankingsAirports Council International World · aci.aero · Accessed 2026-08-29Open source details
Ownership, operation and regulation
Dubai Airports owns, operates and develops Dubai International and Dubai World Central–Al Maktoum International. The organisation was established as a commercial entity in 2007. Dubai Civil Aviation Authority is the local civil-aviation authority, while the federal General Civil Aviation Authority regulates and oversees civil aviation across the United Arab Emirates.[6]Who we are and airport historyDubai Airports · dubaiairports.ae · Accessed 2026-08-29Open source details[9]Designated civil aviation authoritiesUAE General Civil Aviation Authority · gcaa.gov.ae · Accessed 2026-08-29Open source details
The airport operates continuously and brings together the airport company, airlines, air navigation services, police, customs, immigration, ground handlers and other service providers. Operational responsibility for a flight remains divided among these organisations; ownership of a terminal does not make Dubai Airports the operator of an airline or air traffic control service.
Airfield
DXB has two staggered parallel asphalt runways aligned north-west to south-east. Both are 60 m wide and support large commercial aircraft, including the Airbus A380. The current operational dimensions are published by the UAE GCAA rather than inferred from mapping or historic airport fact sheets.[3]OMDB — Dubai InternationalUAE General Civil Aviation Authority · gcaa.gov.ae · Accessed 2026-08-29Open source details[10]OMDB aerodrome chartUAE General Civil Aviation Authority · gcaa.gov.ae · Accessed 2026-08-29Open source details
| Runway | Dimensions | Surface | Threshold notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12R/30L | 4,447 m × 60 m | Asphalt | Displaced thresholds at both ends |
| 12L/30R | 4,351 m × 60 m | Asphalt | Displaced thresholds at both ends |
The runways are staggered: the threshold of 30L lies about 1.5 nautical miles east of the 30R threshold. The AIP warns crews not to confuse them during approaches from the north-west. Instrument landing systems and special reduced-runway-separation procedures support high movement rates, but their application depends on visibility, runway availability and air traffic control conditions.[3]OMDB — Dubai InternationalUAE General Civil Aviation Authority · gcaa.gov.ae · Accessed 2026-08-29Open source details
Dubai Airports periodically closes a runway for intensive rehabilitation. During the 45-day northern-runway project completed in June 2022, some passenger operations moved temporarily to Dubai World Central. A temporary relocation during maintenance should not be treated as a permanent change of an airline's home airport.[6]Who we are and airport historyDubai Airports · dubaiairports.ae · Accessed 2026-08-29Open source details[4]Dubai Airports fact fileDubai Airports · media.dubaiairports.ae · Accessed 2026-08-29Open source details
Terminals and concourses
Dubai International has three passenger terminals. The terminal number identifies the landside check-in and arrivals building, while letters identify the principal airside gate areas. Transfers between some terminal and concourse combinations require an automated train, bus or formal inter-terminal connection.[11]Transfers at Dubai InternationalDubai Airports · dubaiairports.ae · Accessed 2026-08-29Open source details[4]Dubai Airports fact fileDubai Airports · media.dubaiairports.ae · Accessed 2026-08-29Open source details
| Terminal | Principal gate area | Main operational use |
|---|---|---|
| Terminal 1 | Concourse D | A wide range of international airlines |
| Terminal 2 | F gates | Regional, scheduled, charter and special flights; substantial flydubai use |
| Terminal 3 | Concourses A, B and C | Emirates hub operations, selected flydubai services and limited partner-airline use |
Concourse D is connected to Terminal 1 by an automated people mover. Within Terminal 3, passengers can walk between the B and C gates and use a train to reach the A gates. Airline assignments are operational data and can change; the operating carrier and current terminal should be confirmed for each flight.[11]Transfers at Dubai InternationalDubai Airports · dubaiairports.ae · Accessed 2026-08-29Open source details
Terminal 3 and Concourse B opened together in 2008. Concourse A followed in 2013 as a purpose-built A380 facility, while Concourse C was incorporated into the Terminal 3 complex when Concourse D opened for Terminal 1 airlines in 2016. Dubai Airports' current fact file reports 2,122,474 m² of built-up area across the passenger facilities and 526 check-in counters.[8]Terminal 3Dubai Airports · media.dubaiairports.ae · Accessed 2026-08-29Open source details[4]Dubai Airports fact fileDubai Airports · media.dubaiairports.ae · Accessed 2026-08-29Open source details
Airlines and hub operations
Emirates describes DXB as its home hub and operates from the A, B and C gates of Terminal 3. The scale of its long-haul network and the timing of arriving and departing banks make connecting passengers a defining feature of the airport's operation. Emirates' use of large wide-body aircraft, particularly the Airbus A380 and Boeing 777, also shaped the development of stands and concourses.[5]Dubai InternationalEmirates · emirates.com · Accessed 2026-08-29Open source details
flydubai uses both Terminal 2 and parts of Terminal 3, depending on route. Its network complements Emirates through commercial co-operation and gives the airport a substantial narrow-body regional operation alongside Emirates' wide-body hub. Terminal 1 accommodates most other international airlines, although selected carriers use Terminal 3 and assignments can change.[11]Transfers at Dubai InternationalDubai Airports · dubaiairports.ae · Accessed 2026-08-29Open source details[4]Dubai Airports fact fileDubai Airports · media.dubaiairports.ae · Accessed 2026-08-29Open source details
In 2025 the largest country markets by passenger traffic were India at 11.9 million, Saudi Arabia at 7.5 million, the United Kingdom at 6.3 million, Pakistan at 4.3 million and the United States at 3.3 million. London was the largest city market at 3.9 million passengers, followed by Riyadh at 3.0 million; Mumbai and Jeddah each accounted for 2.4 million.[2]DXB sets global benchmark as record traffic becomes the normDubai Airports · media.dubaiairports.ae · Accessed 2026-08-29Open source details[4]Dubai Airports fact fileDubai Airports · media.dubaiairports.ae · Accessed 2026-08-29Open source details
Passenger traffic
DXB handled 95.2 million passengers in 2025, 3.1% more than in 2024. Airports Council International's final dataset gives the unrounded total as 95,192,160. The airport ranked second globally for total passengers, behind Atlanta, and first for international passengers. Because DXB has little domestic traffic, its overall and international totals are effectively the same in the ACI ranking.[1]World's busiest airports: final 2025 rankingsAirports Council International World · aci.aero · Accessed 2026-08-29Open source details
| Measure | 2024 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passengers | 92.3 million | 95.2 million | +3.1% |
| Flight movements | About 440,300 | 454,800 | +3.3% |
| Passenger load factor | 78.1% | 77.6% | −0.5 percentage points |
The 2025 total included an airport-record 8.7 million passengers in December and 25.1 million in the fourth quarter. These records show the importance of sustained peak-day performance at an airport operating close to its physical capacity; they do not represent the declared design capacity of an individual terminal.[2]DXB sets global benchmark as record traffic becomes the normDubai Airports · media.dubaiairports.ae · Accessed 2026-08-29Open source details
Cargo
DXB retains a 35,000 m² cargo facility with a stated annual handling capability of 3.1 million tonnes. Much freight also travels in the belly holds of passenger aircraft, particularly on Emirates' long-haul network.[4]Dubai Airports fact fileDubai Airports · media.dubaiairports.ae · Accessed 2026-08-29Open source details
Dubai World Central has, however, become Dubai's main dedicated cargo hub. Dubai Airports moved all dedicated cargo operators from DXB to DWC by May 2014. For that reason, facility capacity, belly freight and Dubai-wide cargo traffic should not be confused with a current annual DXB cargo throughput figure.[4]Dubai Airports fact fileDubai Airports · media.dubaiairports.ae · Accessed 2026-08-29Open source details
Ground transport
Dubai Metro's Red Line serves stations at Terminals 1 and 3. It connects the airport with central Dubai and interchanges with the wider Metro, bus and taxi network. Terminal 2 has no direct Metro station and is reached by road or connecting public transport.[12]Dubai Metro at DXBDubai Airports · dubaiairports.ae · Accessed 2026-08-29Open source details
Taxis, buses, hotel transfers, car hire and private vehicles serve all three terminals. Terminals are on different sides of the airport road system, so road passengers should use the approach for the terminal shown on their booking rather than treating DXB as a single forecourt. A transfer between Dubai International and Dubai World Central requires a landside journey; the airports are about 60 km apart.[11]Transfers at Dubai InternationalDubai Airports · dubaiairports.ae · Accessed 2026-08-29Open source details
Capacity and Dubai World Central
The two-runway DXB site is constrained by surrounding development. Dubai's long-term aviation growth plan therefore centres on expanding Dubai World Central–Al Maktoum International rather than adding a new runway at DXB. In April 2024 Dubai approved a US$35 billion second-phase expansion of DWC, planned to provide capacity for 150 million passengers a year during the following decade and ultimately 260 million.[4]Dubai Airports fact fileDubai Airports · media.dubaiairports.ae · Accessed 2026-08-29Open source details[6]Who we are and airport historyDubai Airports · dubaiairports.ae · Accessed 2026-08-29Open source details
The planned DWC complex is described with five runways, four satellite concourses and more than 400 contact stands. These are development plans and ultimate capacities, not facilities currently available to DXB passengers. Until individual services transfer, DXB remains Dubai's principal international passenger airport and DWC is a separate airport with the code DWC/OMDW.[4]Dubai Airports fact fileDubai Airports · media.dubaiairports.ae · Accessed 2026-08-29Open source details
Related pages
Sources
Dubai Airports fact file — Dubai Airports
World's busiest airports: final 2025 rankings — Airports Council International World
OMDB — Dubai International — UAE General Civil Aviation Authority
Who we are and airport history — Dubai Airports
DXB sets global benchmark as record traffic becomes the norm — Dubai Airports
Transfers at Dubai International — Dubai Airports