Dubai International Airport (DXB) reports a sharp drop in passenger traffic in the first half of the year, citing disruption linked to the US-Iran war. Dubai Airports says DXB handled 31.5 million passengers from January to June, down from 46 million in the same period last year. In the second quarter alone, the airport welcomes 13 million passengers, reflecting continued effects from the conflict.
Multiple outlets attribute the decline to regional disruptions affecting travel across the Gulf and wider air routes. Several reports also note that flight operations in the UAE and the broader Gulf faced closures and restrictions after the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran on Feb. 28. While sources agree on the scale of the fall, they differ slightly in emphasis: some stress the immediate impact of reduced travel demand and route changes, while others highlight signs of gradual stabilization in Q2 and expectations for recovery as airline capacity and connectivity improve.
Fortune adds that some airlines had not yet fully returned overseas, even as DXB sees signs of recovery after two months of disruption. Overall coverage presents the traffic drop as a measurable near-term effect of the conflict, paired with a cautious outlook for improvement in the second half.
