Dubai tops global international travel again

Dubai International Airport has retained its position as the world's busiest airport for international seat capacity in August, with airlines scheduling 4.54 million outbound seats — about 9 million in both directions — as carriers ramped up flights for the peak summer travel season, according to a 'Gulf News' report citing aviation data provider OAG.

The figure represents a 4.4 percent increase from July, or about 190,000 additional seats month on month, keeping Dubai well ahead of other major hubs worldwide.

London Heathrow ranked second with 4.26 million scheduled international seats, followed by Seoul Incheon with 3.95 million. Amsterdam Schiphol was fourth with 3.85 million seats, while Istanbul Airport completed the top five with 3.80 million.

The capacity growth reflects airlines' continued expansion through Dubai during one of the busiest travel periods of the year, driven by strong seasonal demand, the report said.

Dubai International also retained its position as the world's busiest airport for international passengers in 2025 for a 12th consecutive year, according to figures from Airports Council International cited in the report. The airport handled a record 95.2 million passengers last year, up 3.1 percent from 2024 and the highest annual total in its history, before handling a further 18.6 million passengers in the first quarter of 2026.