Dubai Airports will increase its flight operations and capacity in line with available routing now that United Arab Emirates airspace is fully clear, CEO Paul Griffiths announced on Monday.
The UAE‘s aviation authority confirmed on Saturday that air traffic had returned to normal after precautionary measures initially introduced on February 28, at the onset of the Iran war, were lifted.
Despite disruption from the conflict, Dubai International and Al Maktoum International airports have handled more than six million passengers, over 32,000 aircraft movements, and more than 213,000 metric tons of cargo, with travel demand through Dubai remaining strong, Griffiths said in a LinkedIn post.
Dubai International Airport (DXB), the world’s busiest international travel hub, handled 18.6 million passengers in the first quarter of 2026, down from 23.4 million a year earlier, the Dubai media office said on Monday.
“Demand for travel through Dubai remains strong, and DXB is well positioned to progressively increase capacity and support airlines and guests through a period of continued adjustment,” Griffiths added.
Before the war broke out and Gulf airspace closures disrupted traffic for nearly two months, DXB was expected to handle close to 100 million passengers this year, its operator said on February 11.