Dubai International Airport records 31% traffic drop amid Iran war disruption

Dubai International Airport saw a 31.3% year‑on‑year decline in the first half of 2026, reporting 31.5 million passengers after 13 million in the second quarter as the Iran war disrupted Gulf airspace and travel. The turmoil forced cancellations and reroutings, with aircraft movements down 32.1% to 150,600 in the period and cargo and baggage volumes also falling about 29% and 28% respectively. Despite the sharp headwinds, traffic began to recover in the second quarter, with international connections gradually returning and almost 50 international airlines serving DXB by the end of June. Dubai Airports’ CEO Paul Griffiths described the disruption as a test of resilience, noting improving load factors and capacity that point to a rebound ahead of the typically busier second half. The broader aviation landscape has been affected by higher jet fuel prices and ongoing regional instability as carriers reassess networks.