en.Wedoany.com Reported - Despite the prolonged US-Iran tensions disrupting regional airspace over the past two months, passenger numbers at Dubai airports are still expected to reach as high as 90 million this year. Saj Ahmad, Chief Analyst at London-based StrategicAero Research, stated that the emirate's aviation hub remains firmly on track towards the milestone of 100 million passengers by early next year. Dubai International Airport handled a record 95.2 million passengers in 2025, marking its busiest year ever.

Ahmad pointed out: "The 2026 passenger forecast for Dubai airports will certainly be impacted, but if the ceasefire holds and develops into a lasting solution, the airport still has a strong chance of handling 85 to 90 million passengers this year. However, this forecast depends on no new conflicts erupting to disrupt flight routes."

Dubai Airports stated last week that, with regional airspace restrictions gradually easing following the US-Iran ceasefire on April 8, it is ready to ramp up operations and progressively increase flight movements. Despite operating under restricted conditions since February 28, as of April 30, Dubai's airports had safely transported 6 million passengers, handled over 32,000 flights, and moved more than 213,000 tonnes of critical cargo.

The first quarter results reflect the impact of airspace restrictions. Dubai International Airport handled 18.6 million passengers, a year-on-year decline of 20.6%, with March passenger traffic plummeting 65.7% to 2.5 million. However, Dubai's status as a global transit hub remains its core strength. Of the nearly 99.3 million global passengers whose journeys can be transited through the Middle East, the region captures about 70% of this traffic, with Dubai International Airport alone accounting for 32% of this transit flow. As regional airspace restrictions gradually ease, this transit passenger segment is expected to rebound quickly.

This article is compiled by Wedoany. All AI citations must indicate the source as "Wedoany". If there is any infringement or other issues, please notify us promptly, and we will modify or delete it accordingly. Email: news@wedoany.com