News DeskAbu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi Airports has recorded more than 33 million passengers across the emirate’s five airports in 2025, marking the highest annual traffic in its history and underscoring Abu Dhabi’s rapid rise as a global aviation hub.
The milestone reflects a sustained growth trajectory that has seen passenger volumes double over the past three years. Zayed International Airport (AUH), the emirate’s flagship gateway, has emerged as the fastest-growing mega airport in the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region, according to the latest traffic figures.
In its second full year of operations, AUH accounted for approximately 98 per cent of total passenger traffic and 73 per cent of aircraft movements. The airport handled 8.59 million passengers in the fourth quarter of 2025 alone, representing a year-on-year increase of 13.8 per cent. Several days during the year saw passenger numbers exceed 100,000 per day, highlighting AUH’s growing efficiency and appeal for both transfer and point-to-point travel.
Growth was driven by a significant expansion of the airport’s international network, with 39 new routes launched and seven new airlines added during the year. Carriers including China Eastern Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, Eurowings, Jazeera Airways and Etihad Airways either launched or expanded services, connecting Abu Dhabi to major global hubs such as Addis Ababa, Atlanta and Hong Kong, as well as emerging markets including Berlin, Hanoi, Pune and Warsaw.
Ahmed Juma Al Shamisi, Acting Chief Executive Officer of Abu Dhabi Airports, said surpassing the 33 million passenger mark was a “proud achievement” and a testament to the organisation’s operational readiness. He added that the focus remains on sustaining growth through operational excellence and the expansion of cargo and logistics capabilities.
The year also marked several historic firsts for Abu Dhabi Airports, including the 19th consecutive year of double-digit passenger growth and the first time annual traffic across the emirate’s airports exceeded 30 million passengers.
Other airports in the emirate also reported strong performance. Aircraft movements at Al Bateen Executive Airport rose by 15.3 per cent in the fourth quarter and 7 per cent annually, while Al Ain International Airport recorded a 48.1 per cent increase in passenger traffic in Q4 and a 9.2 per cent rise over the year.
Cargo operations also expanded significantly, with nearly 770,000 tonnes handled in 2025, representing a 12 per cent year-on-year increase and reinforcing Abu Dhabi’s growing role as a regional trade and logistics hub.
Capping a landmark year, Abu Dhabi Airports received multiple international accolades, including Best Airport for Retail at the 2025 Frontier Awards and recognition at the Aviation Business Awards. Zayed International Airport also secured ACI’s Level 2 Accessibility Accreditation and Level 3 Customer Experience Accreditation, alongside awards for innovation in technology and passenger experience.
