Dubai Airports has issued a travel advisory for travellers as Dubai International (DXB) prepares for one of its busiest year-end travel periods on record, with more than 10 million passengers expected to pass through the hub between November 27 and December 31.

The surge will begin over the UAE National Day long weekend, when daily traffic is forecast to exceed 294,000 passengers, Dubai Airports said. Volumes are expected to rise further through December, crossing the 300,000-passenger mark on multiple days.

Saturday, December 20, is projected to be the peak day, with around 303,000 travellers moving through DXB during the holiday season.

Meanwhile, Emirates has also urged passengers to plan, noting that December will bring significant pressure on airport infrastructure due to the convergence of National Day travel, the winter school break, and the seasonal influx for Christmas and New Year celebrations.

The airline said it is preparing for 2.3 million departures from DXB over the coming weekends and more than 2.5 million arrivals into Dubai during the same period. 

Passengers have been advised to allow extra time for travel, with the carrier warning of heavier road traffic, busier car parks, and longer processing times across airport touch points.

Dubai Airports operates both Dubai International (DXB), the world’s busiest international airport,  and Dubai World Central (DWC). Officials say all teams are on heightened readiness to manage the year-end rush and maintain smooth passenger flows.