Dubai International Airport handled 31.5 million passengers in the first half of 2026, down 31.3% from a year earlier, as the Iran war disrupted Gulf aviation and prompted travelers to avoid Middle Eastern routes. Second-quarter traffic totaled 13 million, while first-half aircraft movements fell 32.1% to 150,600, including 62,500 in the second quarter. Airspace shutdowns and restrictions across the United Arab Emirates and the wider Gulf followed U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran on Feb. 28, and the airport sustained minor damage in Iranian attacks. CEO Paul Griffiths said the roughly two-month disruption weighed on traffic but passenger volumes rose each month in the second quarter, with momentum expected to continue as overseas airlines, particularly from Europe, restart services. Attention also remains on a possible full Iranian airspace closure by Dec. 31, which a prediction market has assigned an 18.5% probability.