Dubai Airports projects 70 million passengers in 2026 as traffic rebounds
Dubai Airports now expects about 70 million passengers this year, revising down from a near‑100 million target due to the Iran‑Israel conflict, but sees capacity and demand recovering.
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Dubai traffic recovery may modestly support Transport sector but impact on specific PSX companies remains unclear, so watch.
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Open on Business Recorder## Revised passenger forecast
Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths announced that the operator now expects annual passenger traffic to reach roughly 70 million by the end of 2026. The earlier target of close to 100 million was abandoned after the Iran‑Israel war caused temporary closures of Gulf airspace.
## Current traffic levels
Dubai International Airport (DXB) handled 31.5 million passengers in the first half of 2026, a decline from 46 million in the same period last year. Despite the dip, the airport’s capacity has recovered to about 84 % of pre‑war levels and passenger numbers are back to 78 % of those levels.
## Drivers of recovery
The return of several European carriers that had suspended flights due to the conflict is supporting the new outlook. Griffiths expressed confidence that the airport will be “pretty much back” by year‑end.
## Market outlook
The CEO highlighted that both the transfer market and point‑to‑point traffic remain robust, with India, Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom continuing as the top inbound and outbound markets. Business travel is also holding strong.
## Future growth prospects
Advances in smaller, longer‑range aircraft could enable further expansion. Dubai Airports aims to increase the number of cities served directly from Dubai from the current 240 by mid‑2027, exploring new routes to Europe and Africa. The conflict has also prompted discussions on design changes to make the new airport more resilient.
## Implications for the region
A healthier Dubai hub may benefit regional airlines and travel‑related businesses, including Pakistani carriers that operate flights to and from the UAE.