Dubai International Airport (IATA: DXB, ICAO: OMDB) (Arabic: مطار دبي الدولي) is the primary airport serving Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and remains the world’s busiest airport by international passenger traffic. It is also one of the busiest globally in terms of cargo, the top airport for Airbus A380 and Boeing 777 movements, and still among the busiest major airports operating with just two runways.
In 2024, DXB handled a record 92.3 million passengers, marking its highest annual volume ever. Cargo volumes reached approximately 2.2 million tonnes, up sharply from the previous year. Aircraft movements also grew, with 440,300 movements during 2024.
Dubai International is situated in the Al Garhoud district, about 2.5 nautical miles (4.6 km) east of Dubai, covering roughly 2,900 hectares (7,200 acres) of land. The airport is operated by Dubai Airports Company and serves as the hub for Dubai’s key airlines: Emirates and flydubai. Emirates continues to be the dominant carrier at DXB. The airport consists of three terminals and, as of recent reports, is forecasting capacity to exceed 94 million passengers in 2025.
Terminal 3 remains among the largest airport terminals in the world by floor area. As of now, DXB connects to 272 destinations across 107 countries, served by 106 airlines.
Dubai International makes a significant economic contribution to Dubai. While older data cited around 90,000 direct employees, the airport’s continued growth means its economic footprint is likely even more substantial now. Indirectly, it supports hundreds of thousands of jobs and contributes a major portion of Dubai’s GDP.
DXB’s single facility’s capacity is being tested: Dubai Airports projects that by 2027, the airport could handle 100 million passengers annually. Longer-term, the development of Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) is expected to relieve pressure, with plans to shift major operations there in the future.
In terms of infrastructure, DXB has a runway length of about 14,590 feet, which supports a wide range of aircraft—small props, small jets, medium jets, long-range jets, regional airliners, and large airliners.