Saudi Arabia performs particularly strongly with two airports in the top five, while Oman, Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates also feature prominently.
Dubai airport
United Airlines rejects Boeing 777X purchase rumors as Boeing advances certification and Emirates waits for future deliveries.
British Airways removes Airbus A380 from London Heathrow to Dubai winter schedule as Boeing 777 and 787 replace the aircraft.
Air France (AF) has suspended passenger services to Dubai (DXB) and Riyadh (RUH) and pushed back the resumption of its Beirut (BEY) flights, pointing to the unsettled operating conditions across the Middle East.
Assuming the 5 routes do see the A380 in September, Emirates will operate 82 daily superjumbo departures from Dubai.
The 2026 rankings for airports handling over 80 million passengers showcase facilities that have successfully balanced size with service quality, offering modern terminals, efficient connections, excellent amenities, and friendly staff.
These are the world’s best airports for layovers by evaluating factors such as dining options, passenger comfort, sleeping facilities, lounges, shower availability, and overall amenities.
Israel offers Emirates seventh freedom flights from Tel Aviv to New York and Bangkok in a bid to restore Dubai service.
Turkish Airlines (TK) will restart flights between Istanbul Airport (IST) and Dubai International Airport (DXB) beginning June 8, restoring one of the busiest international air links connecting Turkey and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The Dubai International Airport (DXB) handled an unusual lost property case after a passenger left behind a jacket containing more than €30,500 (US $35,600) in cash and never returned to reclaim it.