Traffic data show a total of 4,013,127 passengers passed through the airport last month - 14.8 per cent more than in October 2009 and is the second time in its history that more than four million travellers have been handled in one month.
Paul Griffiths, chief executive officer of Dubai Airports, said: "Over the past 50 years Dubai International has seen passenger numbers increase by an average 15.5 per cent annually.
"Before the end of the decade passenger numbers will approach 90 million making Dubai International the busiest airport in the world in terms of international passenger traffic."
Figures show the largest increase in passenger numbers was on flights to and from Western Europe and the Indian subcontinent.
Dubai International Airport has two departure terminals and offers e-check-in options to help reduce passenger waiting times.