Dubai airport traffic plunged 31% as the Iran war sent travelers looking for routes outside the Middle East

Dubai International Airport, one of the world’s busiest hubs, said Wednesday it saw a sharp drop in passengers during the second quarter as the  Iran war  disrupted air travel and prompted many travelers to choose routes that avoided the Middle East.

The airport recorded 13 million passengers during the second quarter, following 31.5 million passengers in the first half. That was a 31.3% drop over passenger traffic in the first half of 2025, the airport said.