Dubai International Airport Retains Its Title as the World’s Busiest International Airport
Dubai, September 2, 2026: Dubai International Airport (DXB) has once again retained its position as the world’s busiest airport for international traffic. According to aviation data provider OAG, airlines have scheduled around 4.34 million international departing seats from DXB during September 2026, equivalent to approximately 8.68 million seats when arrivals and departures are combined.
Dubai continues to lead major international aviation hubs despite the challenges facing the regional aviation sector. London Heathrow is ranked second with around 4.07 million international departing seats, followed by Seoul Incheon, Amsterdam Schiphol and Istanbul Airport. The figures underline Dubai’s importance as a global connecting hub between Europe, Asia, Africa and other major destinations.
However, September’s capacity is around 15% lower than the same month last year, reflecting the impact of regional airspace restrictions and disruptions earlier in 2026. DXB handled about 31.5 million passengers during the first half of 2026, a significant decline compared with the same period in 2025. Passenger numbers nevertheless improved during the second quarter as airline capacity gradually returned.
The airport’s continued No. 1 position demonstrates the strength of Dubai’s aviation network. By the end of June, almost 50 international airlines were operating from DXB, connecting Dubai with 217 destinations across 99 countries. Despite the difficult start to 2026, rising passenger traffic and recovering airline operations indicate that Dubai remains one of the most important international aviation hubs in the world.
