The figures are likely to propel the airport into the top ten of the world's busiest airports after it was ranked tenth in 2006, when it handled 28.78 million passengers. The data also shows at that the airport has maintained growth in passenger numbers of more than 15% for 6 consecutive years.

August 2007 was the busiest month for the airport, with 3.28 million passing through, one of three months that year when the 3 million mark was broken. On average, the airport handled 95,000 passengers per day last year.

There was also a corresponding increase in aircraft movements, which were up 9.8% over the previous year. Total aircraft movements amounted to 260,530 in 2007, for an average of 725 aircraft movements per day.

According to Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA) and Chairman of Dubai Airports, Dubai International's growth "is a reflection of Dubai's robust economy, and its rising popularity as an international commercial and tourism hub".

"It is also a clear sign of our intent and vision for the future of the aviation sector in Dubai," he noted in a statement released to announcement the achievement.

However, while Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports described the the record growth in 2007 as an "accomplishment", he observed that there were many future challenges that those at Dubai Airports must prepare for.

"As a commercial entity, Dubai Airports intends to further speed up the overall growth rate of Dubai International, and, in the near future, of Dubai World Central - Al Maktoum International, while at the same time improving our customer service levels," he stated.

When completed, Al Maktoum International, located near the Jebel Ali Free Zone, will be the world's largest airport, and is projected to be larger than London's Heathrow and Chicago's O'Hare International combined. It will have six runways and form part of a larger residential, commercial and industrial complex, with total infrastructure costs expected to reach USD33 billion.

Mohammed Ahli, Director General of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, and CEO, Air Traffic Services (ATS), explained that one of the major reasons behind Dubai International's sustaining a high growth rate for over half a decade is Dubai's "open skies policy".

He added that: "We have had new airlines joining us periodically, thanks to Dubai's envious position as the region's best connection, and our destination network has also expanded rapidly especially in recent years."

In 2007, the list of airlines serving Dubai rose to 120, seven more than in 2006, and the airport now serves 205 destinations, Ahli concluded.