Dubai International Airport handled a record 95.2 million passengers in 2025
Dubai (AP): Dubai International Airport maintained its crown as the world's busiest airport last year as officials said Wednesday that a record 95.2 million passengers transited through its terminals, part of the emirate's continued economic boom.
The airport took off in the post-pandemic years, spurred by worldwide interest in travel and by ever-increasing tourism, business and real estate opportunities in the biggest city in the United Arab Emirates. Dubai on Monday reported a 5% increase in tourists last year, to 19.6 million, a third consecutive year of record-breaking figures.
The state-owned airport is home to the long-haul carrier Emirates, which powers the network of state-owned and state-linked businesses in the emirate known as “Dubai Inc.”
Dubai International showed in 2025 "that record traffic is no longer an exception, but part of its operating reality,” said Paul Griffiths, the chief executive of Dubai Airports.
Dubai airport saw 92.3 million passengers in 2024, compared with 86.9 million passengers in the previous year. In 2019, just before the pandemic fully disrupted air travel, traffic was 86.3 million passengers. It had 89.1 million passengers in 2018.
India remained the top destination for people flying out of Dubai International last year, with 11.9 million passengers, followed by Saudi Arabia with 7.5 million and the United Kingdom at 6.3 million. The facility served 108 airlines flying to 291 cities in 110 countries.
A real-estate boom and the city's highest-ever tourism numbers have made Dubai a destination as well as a layover. However, the city is now grappling with increasing traffic and costs that are pressuring both its Emirati citizens and the foreign residents who power its economy.
Dubai plans to move its airport operations to Al Maktoum International Airport, about 45 kilometers (28 miles) away. Al Maktoum, which opened in 2010 with one terminal, served as a parking lot for Emirates' double-decker Airbus A380s and other aircraft during the pandemic, but it has since returned to life with cargo, commercial and private flights. It also hosts the biennial Dubai Air Show and has a vast desert in which to expand.
Authorities plan to move operations in 2032 to the city-state's second airport after a roughly $35 billion upgrade.
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Abhishek Sharma hospitalised with stomach infection, doubtful for Namibia game
New Delhi (PTI): Flamboyant Indian opener Abhishek Sharma has been hospitalised with a stomach infection, leaving him doubtful for the T20 World Cup match against Namibia here on Thursday.
Abhishek has been hospitalised here for the past two days.
"Abhishek has been admitted to a private hospital in Delhi due to stomach infection. Some tests are being done to ascertain the problem. It is still not clear whether he will be discharged today. But match against Namibia looks doubtful as of now," a BCCI source said.
Abhishek was out for a duck against the USA in the opening game on Saturday in Mumbai and took no further part in the game with Sanju Samson replacing him while fielding.
The priority for India isn't the Namibia game but the February 15 match against a steadily improving Pakistan team at the Premadasa Stadium in Colombo where the strip would be slightly different.
A stomach infection is known to affect stamina and endurance and it remains to be seen if Abhishek will be in a position to travel on Friday, train on Saturday and take the field on Sunday.
Samson did bat in the nets on Tuesday and spent a lot of time with batting coach Sitanshu Kotak, an indication that the team management is keeping its options ready in case Abhishek fails to regain full fitness.
But the Indian team management is hopeful of having him on the park on February 15.
It has been learnt that the 25-year-old attended the dinner at head coach Gautam Gambhir’s home here on Sunday but left much earlier than the rest of his teammates.
