Dubai Airport welcomed 87 million passengers in 2023

Passenger Traffic

In 2023, Dubai Airport experienced an increase in passenger numbers, reaching a total of 86,994,365, a year-on-year increase of 31.7%. This figure surpasses 2019 passenger numbers by 1%.

December was the busiest month of the fourth quarter, with 7.8 million passengers, representing a year-on-year growth of 13.8%. The third quarter remained the busiest quarter since 2019 with 23 million guests, while August, with 7.9 million guests, had the highest traffic.

Cargo

During 2023, the airport handled a total of 1,805,898 tons of cargo, representing a slight decrease of 4.5% compared to the previous year. Cargo volumes recorded a year-on-year growth of 20.4% in the fourth quarter, reaching 506,018 tons.

Number of Operations

The increase in passenger numbers throughout the year was reflected in flight movements totaling 416,405 in 2023, the highest total number of movements ever recorded at DXB, with a year-on-year increase of 21.3%.

His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai, said: «The spectacular performance of DXB in 2023 is a clear testament to the visionary leadership and determination of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to achieve growth and excellence in all sectors, overcoming all challenges along the way.»

«These outstanding results highlight Dubai’s emergence as the world’s most popular tourist destination and its crucial role in global trade, facilitated by unparalleled connectivity, aviation capacity, and logistics infrastructure built steadily over the years under His Highness’s leadership,» he added.

Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, noted: «I am incredibly proud of everyone working at Dubai International for their dedication and relentless pursuit of excellence, which has driven us to surpass many of our records. 2023 has been an exceptional year and is a testament to our unwavering commitment to operational excellence, efficiency, innovation, and exemplary customer experience.»

«This translated into DXB achieving its highest internal engagement scores, reflecting our commitment to foster a culture of collaboration, where every contribution is valued, and every employee’s potential is maximized,» Griffiths added.

Initial forecasts indicate that in 2024, DXB is expected to receive 88.8 million passengers, placing the hub an astonishing distance from its previous historical record of 89.1 million passengers, set in 2018.