Dubai International Airport recorded a remarkable global milestone in December 2025, with nearly 5.5 million scheduled seats on international flights (one-way), equivalent to 11 million seats for round-trip travel, securing its position as the busiest airport in the world. This achievement was highlighted in the latest report issued by OAG, the leading global provider of aviation and airport data.

According to the newly released figures, Dubai International Airport maintained its top global ranking throughout December, showing a 4% increase in seat capacity compared to the same period last year. This steady rise reflects the continued strength of international travel demand and the airport’s role as a critical hub for global connectivity.

The airport has experienced consistent growth in air capacity since the beginning of 2025. Throughout the year, Dubai International continued to increase its scheduled seat numbers, reaching record highs during the peak summer season and later surpassing them again in December, driven by heightened travel activity during the holiday season.

This growth in capacity came as airlines operating through Dubai International Airport significantly expanded their flight operations to accommodate rising demand, particularly during the end-of-year festive and holiday period. The airport’s strong performance follows impressive passenger and traffic growth recorded in 2024 and the first nine months of 2025.

Monthly data reveals that seat capacity exceeded the five million mark in almost every month of 2025, with the exception of February, which registered 4.78 million seats. In January, the airport recorded 5.3 million seats, followed by 5.16 million in March, 5.0 million in April, 5.2 million in May, and 5.1 million in June. The upward trend continued with 5.28 million in July, 5.34 million in August, 5.1 million in September, 5.35 million in October, around 5.3 million in November, and finally peaking at 5.5 million seats in December.

According to OAG data, Dubai International Airport recorded a total of 62.4 million scheduled seats in one direction during 2025, translating to approximately 124.8 million seats in both directions combined. These figures reinforce Dubai’s position as a global aviation powerhouse and underline the airport’s strategic importance in facilitating international travel, tourism, and global trade connections.