Dubai Airport Traffic Drops 66% Amid Iran-UAE Tensions

In March, Dubai International Airport experienced a dramatic 66% decline in passenger traffic, attributed to escalating tensions between Iran and the UAE, particularly following an Iranian attack. The airport's traffic plummeted to 2.5 million passengers, a stark contrast to its record of 95.2 million passengers in the previous year.

The Dubai Media Office reported that the ongoing regional disruptions significantly constrained airspace capacity and flight schedules. Although the airspace within the UAE is expected to be fully restored, the airport is taking decisive measures to scale operations and increase flight movements in line with available regional route capacity.

The CEO of Dubai Airport, Paul Griffith, noted the extraordinary events impacting the airport hub. Additionally, quarterly traffic was down 21% to 18.6 million passengers in the first quarter of 2026, reflecting the broader impact of the geopolitical situation on air travel.