By Hafiz Rahat Usama 
Pakistan Emerges as Fourth Largest Market for DXB
Dubai International Airport (DXB) has reported robust passenger traffic in the first nine months of 2025, handling a total of 70.1 million travelers. Pakistan contributed significantly to these numbers, with 3.2 million passengers passing through the airport during this period. This positions Pakistan as DXB’s fourth-largest market, trailing only India (8.8 million), Saudi Arabia (5.5 million), and the UK (4.6 million). The steady flow of Pakistani travelers underscores the country’s strong ties with the UAE, driven by tourism, business, labor mobility, and transit connections to Europe, the Middle East, and North America.
Historic Quarterly Performance and Efficiency Milestones
The July–September quarter marked a historic high for DXB, with 24.2 million passengers—a 1.9% year-on-year increase. The airport’s 12-month rolling traffic reached an unprecedented 93.8 million passengers by the end of September. Operational efficiency remained a highlight, with 99.6% of departing passengers clearing passport control within 10 minutes and 99.8% of arrivals processed in under 15 minutes. Additionally, aircraft movements remained strong, with 115,000 flights in Q3 and 336,000 flights recorded in the first nine months of the year.
Infrastructure Upgrades to Accommodate Growing Demand
To sustain this growth, Dubai Airports is enhancing facilities at Terminal 1 and Terminal 3, with a focus on improving capacity for South Asian travelers, who constitute a vital segment of DXB’s visitor base. These upgrades aim to streamline passenger processing and enhance the overall travel experience, ensuring the airport remains a global aviation hub.