Passenger traffic at Dubai International Airport dropped sharply during the second quarter, officials announced Wednesday, after the regional conflict involving Iran disrupted air travel and forced travelers to choose flight paths avoiding the Middle East.The aviation hub handled 13 million passengers in the second quarter, bringing its total for the first half to 31.5 million. That represents a 31.3% decline compared with the first half of 2025, according to the airport.Flight operations across the United Arab Emirates and the wider Gulf faced closures and restrictions after the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran on Feb. 28. Dubai airport sustained minor damage during Iranian strikes.Total aircraft movements reached 150,600 over the first half—a 32.1% annual drop—with 62,500 movements recorded in the second quarter.Planes parked at Dubai International Airport on March 11, 2026 after drones fell near the airport, injuring four people (AFP via Getty Images)CEO Paul Griffiths noted, however, that passenger volume grew steadily each month during the second quarter, adding that this momentum is expected to continue."The events of the disruption, which lasted two months, that had an impact on traffic," Griffiths told The Associated Press. "However, the trajectory now is universally positive."He said the airport is awaiting foreign carriers, particularly from Europe, to restart their flights."I'm very confident we'll be back to full operation in a very short space of time," he said.