Passenger traffic at Dubai International Airport dropped sharply by 66% in March 2026, following attacks linked to escalating tensions between Iran and United Arab Emirates.

According to the Dubai Media Office, the airport handled just 2.5 million passengers during the month, a steep decline from its usual figures as one of the world’s busiest international travel hubs.

The disruption was attributed to restricted airspace and reduced flight operations caused by regional instability during the Middle East conflict.

Dubai International was reportedly targeted multiple times by drone strikes as the UAE faced retaliatory actions connected to wider geopolitical tensions in the region.

Overall, first-quarter passenger traffic fell by 21% to 18.6 million, significantly below expectations. The airport had previously recorded 95.2 million passengers in 2025 and was projected to reach nearly 100 million in 2026 before the crisis.

Despite the setback, authorities say airspace has now been fully restored, and efforts are underway to gradually scale up operations as flight routes stabilise.