Dubai International Airport (DXB) expects to reach a record 100 million passengers annually within the next 18 months. The milestone had previously been targeted for the end of 2026 but was slightly delayed by operational disruptions this year.

Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, said the recovery in air traffic had accelerated in recent months, with a highly positive outlook for the third and fourth quarters. DXB handled 95.2 million passengers last year.

Dubai International was affected by two months of disruption in the first half of 2026 due to regional security developments and missile attacks. Griffiths said most of the impact was reversed within 30 days, with passenger numbers now back to about 80 per cent of pre-disruption levels and flight capacity at around 86 per cent.

By the end of the first half, 56 airlines were operating from DXB to 236 cities across 100 countries. Griffiths expressed confidence that the flight schedule would be more fully restored by the end of the third quarter, with more airlines resuming normal operations. Emirates and flydubai are among the carriers that have staged a strong recovery, he said.

Griffiths also forecast that DXB would re-establish its position as the world’s busiest airport for international passenger traffic by the end of 2026, after ranking second in the first half of the year.

He said rising ticket prices did not indicate weakening traveller confidence. Instead, higher fares reflected strong demand amid limited seat capacity. According to Griffiths, one of the main obstacles to a faster recovery is the continued use of cautious travel advisories by some foreign governments, which can affect travel insurance and passenger decisions.

Griffiths also confirmed that Dubai’s plans to launch flying taxis remain on track and that vertiport infrastructure has been completed. However, the commercial launch date will depend on securing safety approvals.