Dubai International Airport (DXB) is bracing for what could be the single-busiest day in its 64-year history. In an updated forecast released on 17 December, operator Dubai Airports said 312,000 travellers are expected to pass through the hub on 28 December, capping a month-long holiday surge that will push total December footfall above 8.7 million passengers. The revised figure eclipses the previous one-day high of 309,000 set earlier this year.
To keep passenger flows moving, the airport has activated its comprehensive ‘oneDXB’ peak-operations programme. The plan brings together airlines, Immigration, customs, police, ground-handling firms and Dubai Metro under a single command-and-control framework designed to keep security-queue times under 20 minutes and ensure bags reach the carousel within 35 minutes. Additional staff have been rostered, and all 120 Smart Gates as well as Emirates’ biometric “Red Carpet” tunnel will operate at full capacity.
Infrastructure outside the terminal is also being stretched to meet demand. Dubai Metro operating hours will be extended, and traffic-management teams will steer private cars and ride-hailing services away from bottleneck zones. Families with children over 12 are being urged to use Smart Gates, while departing residents are asked to arrive three hours before take-off and check-in online where possible.
![Dubai International activates ‘oneDXB’ plan as forecasts show record 312,000 passengers on 28 December]()
In parallel, travelers who still need to sort out UAE entry formalities can save valuable time by using VisaHQ’s online visa and travel-document service. The platform’s step-by-step wizard, available at https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/, helps individuals and corporate travel coordinators determine eligibility, gather the correct paperwork and submit applications without a trip to the consulate—an advantage when airport queues are already expected to be at record length.
For corporate mobility managers the message is clear: departures around 28 December will require extra buffer time. Employers should remind assignees and visiting executives to finalise online formalities in advance, allow generous ground-transport margins, and expect longer waits at taxi stands. Companies moving time-sensitive cargo via belly hold should also double-check cut-off times as ramp congestion typically rises during peak-travel windows.
The year-end spike underscores DXB’s return to pre-pandemic capacity and highlights the UAE’s continuing allure as a regional hub for talent, meetings and leisure. Travel teams that proactively adjust itineraries and educate employees on Smart Gate eligibility will be best placed to navigate the seasonal rush.
To keep passenger flows moving, the airport has activated its comprehensive ‘oneDXB’ peak-operations programme. The plan brings together airlines, Immigration, customs, police, ground-handling firms and Dubai Metro under a single command-and-control framework designed to keep security-queue times under 20 minutes and ensure bags reach the carousel within 35 minutes. Additional staff have been rostered, and all 120 Smart Gates as well as Emirates’ biometric “Red Carpet” tunnel will operate at full capacity.
Infrastructure outside the terminal is also being stretched to meet demand. Dubai Metro operating hours will be extended, and traffic-management teams will steer private cars and ride-hailing services away from bottleneck zones. Families with children over 12 are being urged to use Smart Gates, while departing residents are asked to arrive three hours before take-off and check-in online where possible.
In parallel, travelers who still need to sort out UAE entry formalities can save valuable time by using VisaHQ’s online visa and travel-document service. The platform’s step-by-step wizard, available at https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/, helps individuals and corporate travel coordinators determine eligibility, gather the correct paperwork and submit applications without a trip to the consulate—an advantage when airport queues are already expected to be at record length.
For corporate mobility managers the message is clear: departures around 28 December will require extra buffer time. Employers should remind assignees and visiting executives to finalise online formalities in advance, allow generous ground-transport margins, and expect longer waits at taxi stands. Companies moving time-sensitive cargo via belly hold should also double-check cut-off times as ramp congestion typically rises during peak-travel windows.
The year-end spike underscores DXB’s return to pre-pandemic capacity and highlights the UAE’s continuing allure as a regional hub for talent, meetings and leisure. Travel teams that proactively adjust itineraries and educate employees on Smart Gate eligibility will be best placed to navigate the seasonal rush.
