DUBAI — Dubai International Airport said it retained its top global spot in2018 after serving the largest number of passengers for the fifth year in arow despite falling short of its target.

Traffic at the major transit hub rose slightly to 89.15 million passengers,up just over 1.0 percent on the number who used the airport in 2017, itsaid in a statement.

Although the figure is a new record high, it missed on the 90.3 millionpassengers Dubai airport had projected for 2018.

Indians retained the top position with 12.28 million passengers last yearand Saudis came in second with 6.47 million travellers, overtaking Britons.

Passengers from east Europe made the largest growth with 16.7 percentfollowed by the Commonwealth of the Independent States and Africa, thestatement said.

In 2017, traffic at the world’s busiest airport grew by 4.6 millionpassengers or 5.5 percent.

Dubai’s non-oil based economy has faced a slowdown in the key real estateand tourism sectors.

Dubai International, the base for Dubai-owned carrier Emirates and itsbudget airline FlyDubai, overtook London’s Heathrow airport in terms ofinternational passengers in 2014 and has maintained its lead since.