KARACHI: In 30 days since the start of war in the Middle East, a total of 27,000 flights have been cancelled at Dubai International Airport, one of the world’s busiest aviation hubs, affecting approximately 5.1 million passengers.
During this period, only around 9,000 flights were able to operate, based on a daily average of 300 flights. These operations facilitated nearly 900,000 passengers, with an average of 30,000 passengers travelling per day.
Airport data shows that under normal circumstances, Dubai handles around 1,200 flights daily, serving approximately 200,000 passengers. In early January 2026, daily passenger traffic had surged to as high as 324,000, with 324,000 passengers recorded on January 3 and 322,000 on January 4.
Just a day before the escalation involving strikes on Iran by the United States and Israel, the airport recorded an average daily passenger count of around 200,000 on February 27.
Despite the complete closure of airspace by 10 countries on March 1, Dubai Airport managed to operate 25 flights. Since then, flight operations have gradually improved through alternative arrangements.
On March 28, marking one month of the conflict, the airport handled 421 flights, including 200 landings and 221 take-offs. Overall, operational capacity at the airport has been reported at just 16pc of normal levels.
