Dubai: The world’s busiest international airport is even busier than ever.

Dubai International Airport has revealed that it is on track for record-breaking annual traffic after it welcomed more than 68.6 million guests in the first three quarters of the year.

DXB bosses have put the success down to more people than ever before flying specifically to Dubai without travelling onwards to a connecting flight.

With so much to see and do in Dubai this year, it makes sense that many more people view the emirate as a top travel destination.

And as Global Village reopened, the Dubai Shopping Festival returns and the many huge New Year’s Eve parties are all set to kick off, passenger numbers are expected to break its record numbers.

The passenger numbers leading up to September have meant that DXB predicts that its 2024 annual traffic is forecast to reach 91.9 million guests.

DXB expects to welcome 23.2 million guests between October and the end of December, a period known for high direct traffic, driven by expats travelling home for the festive season and visitors arriving to enjoy the UAE’s packed winter calendar.

Despite major disruption during the April storms, the airport is still on track for a record-breaking year.

More than 111,300 flights were handled in the third quarter of the year, propelling the total flight movements for the first nine months to 327,700 – an increase of 6.4 percent the previous year.

India continued to lead as the top destination market with 8.9 million guests over the nine-month period.

Neighbouring Saudi Arabia followed with 5.6 million guests, marking a 15.2 percent increase, while the UK accounted for 4.6 million guests, a 4.7 percent growth from 2023.

Pakistan and the USA contributed 3.4 million and 2.6 million guests, respectively, and Germany recorded 2.0 million guests.

As for specific cities, London was named the top city destination in the world with 2.9 million guests, followed by Riyadh at 2.3 million.

Other key cities included Mumbai at 1.8 million, Jeddah with 1.7 million, New Delhi welcomed 1.6 million guests and Istanbul made up for 1.3 million guests.

Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, said that the shift from transfer traffic to direct traffic for Dubai has been notable.

He said: “This year has highlighted the very best of DXB — showcasing its continued growth, resilience, and commitment to service excellence, qualities that have become synonymous with the airport.

“At the heart of this success is our people, whose dedication and collaboration have driven our record-breaking guest numbers and robust operational performance, keeping us at the top for over a decade.

“What’s particularly noteworthy is that DXB is seeing more direct traffic than ever before — a shift from the long-standing trend where transfer traffic dominated.

“This reflects Dubai’s evolution into not just a premier tourist destination, but also a globally attractive place to live, work, and do business, further underscored by the city’s booming real estate market and its rising appeal as a destination for top talent.

“We’re focused on continuing to deliver an exceptional experience in the final quarter, buoyed by Dubai’s vibrant winter calendar and renowned attractions.”

-B