Dubai International turns 66: from a sand runway to 95.2 million passengers
LVIn short
Dubai International opened on 30 September 1960 with a 1,800-metre compacted-sand runway. In 2025 it handled a record 95.2 million passengers, and the next phase runs through Al Maktoum, a AED 128 billion project with capacity of up to 260 million passengers a year.
On 30 September 2026 Dubai International (DXB) turned 66. When it opened in 1960 it had a 1,800-metre runway of compacted sand, an apron and a small passenger terminal. Today it is the world's largest hub for international travel: in 2025 it handled a record 95.2 million passengers, and more than 1.5 billion people have passed through since opening.
The next phase: Al Maktoum
Future growth runs through Dubai World Central and Al Maktoum International Airport. The expansion is worth AED 128 billion (about US$35 billion), is reported on track for completion by 2032, and foresees five parallel runways and capacity of up to 260 million passengers a year.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Dubai International opened | 30 September 1960 |
| DXB passengers in 2025 (record) | 95.2 million |
| Cumulative passengers since opening | over 1.5 billion |
| Al Maktoum investment | AED 128 billion |
| Al Maktoum capacity at full build | 260 million passengers a year |
| Reported completion | by 2032 |
The bridge to real estate
More passengers mean more people discovering Dubai, coming back and sometimes relocating. That is the channel feeding tourism, short-term rentals and new residents, in other words housing demand. The story to tell is the one from flight to home.
Our DLD register shows where demand is already concentrating: between January and August 2026 the area with the most sales overall is Madinat Al Mataar, the Dubai South district that hosts Al Maktoum airport itself, with 12,710 transactions across all sales registered by the Dubai Land Department. Before the hub is even complete, buyers are positioning around it.
- Connectivity: a 260-million-passenger hub brings new flows of visitors, companies and residents.
- Dubai South: a district built around the airport, already first by sales in 2026 according to the DLD.
- Choice: many projects and price points, with 78.8% of Dubai sales below AED 3 million (DLD, January to August 2026).
Original source
Article based on Dubai International Airport turns 66: From a sand runway in 1960 to 1.5 billion passengers and counting — Emirates 24|7 / Dubai Airports · 2 Oct 2026. Reading, analysis and commentary are original.
Frequently asked
When did Dubai International open?
On 30 September 1960, with a 1,800-metre compacted-sand runway, an apron and a small terminal.
How many passengers did DXB handle in 2025?
A record 95.2 million, the highest in its history. More than 1.5 billion passengers have passed through since opening.
What is Al Maktoum airport and when will it be ready?
It is the future Dubai South hub, a AED 128 billion expansion with five parallel runways and capacity of up to 260 million passengers a year, reported on track for completion by 2032.
How are airports linked to the property market?
More passengers bring more tourists, companies and residents, so more housing and rental demand. In 2026 the area with the most sales per the DLD is Madinat Al Mataar, the Dubai South district that hosts Al Maktoum.
Luca Vallelonga
Italian real estate consultant in Dubai since 2021 · Senior Real Estate Advisor, Gabetti Middle East · BRN 85642
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