UAE airports passenger traffic reaches 156.8 million in 2025 as aviation sector grows 6.1%
UAE airports handled 156.8 million passengers in 2025, a 6.1% increase from 2024, while aircraft movements rose 6.8% to 855,300 amid sustained infrastructure investment.
Record annual passenger traffic: 156.8 million in 2025
The UAE recorded a total of 156.8 million passengers through its airports in 2025, up from 147.8 million in 2024, an increase of 6.1%. The Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre (FCSC) reported the rise reflects gains across arrivals, departures and transit flows.
Arrivals reached 44.2 million and departures 43.0 million, while transit passengers showed the strongest single component growth at 8%, totaling 69.5 million. Officials say the figures underscore the sector’s role as a major driver of trade, tourism and economic competitiveness.
Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah account for bulk of traffic
Dubai’s airports continued to dominate national volumes, recording 104.5 million passengers in 2025 compared with 100.9 million in 2024, a 3.5% increase. That total split into roughly 30.2 million arrivals, 29.5 million departures and 44.7 million transit passengers.
Abu Dhabi’s airports saw stronger relative growth, with traffic rising to 34.2 million from 30.8 million in 2024, a 10.7% jump driven by increases in both transit and origin-destination travel. Sharjah International Airport handled 16.9 million passengers, up from 15.2 million, reflecting a parallel 10.7% expansion.
Smaller emirates record double‑digit growth rates
Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah posted the fastest percentage increases among the emirates in 2025. Ras Al Khaimah surpassed the one‑million passenger mark, rising 56.8% from 639,300 in 2024 to more than 1 million in 2025. Fujairah’s passenger numbers climbed 170% to 164,600, up from 61,100 the prior year.
These gains in secondary airports signal successful efforts to diversify capacity outside primary hubs and to capture regional demand, while supporting broader tourism and logistics strategies across the federation.
Aircraft movements and operational capacity expand
Total aircraft movements across UAE airports reached 855,300 in 2025, up 6.8% from 801,000 in 2024, the FCSC reported. Incoming movements rose to 414,300 and departures to 414,100, each expanding around 7.3%, reflecting growth in both scheduled services and network connectivity.
The increase in movements alongside passenger growth indicates that airports handled higher utilization while maintaining throughput, an outcome attributed to infrastructure upgrades, airfield management and operational planning implemented over recent years.
Government strategy and investment underpin growth
Senior officials said the 2025 results validate national plans to expand aviation capacity and services. Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism and chairman of the General Civil Aviation Authority, described the performance as the product of a forward‑looking national aviation strategy driven by sustained investment in airports, logistics and regulatory frameworks.
Authorities highlighted ongoing programmes aimed at modernising terminals, enhancing ground handling and attracting new airline services, as well as efforts to train and certify national aviation talent. These initiatives are being aligned with the objectives of the “We the UAE 2031” national plan to strengthen the country’s role as a global transport hub.
Data governance and policymaking: FCSC perspectives
Hanan Mansour Ahli, Director of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre, said the new statistics demonstrate the value of robust, timely data to support policymaking and planning. The FCSC emphasized continuous development of the national statistical system to provide high‑quality indicators for performance measurement and competitiveness benchmarking.
Officials noted that reliable transportation statistics help calibrate capacity investments, schedule slot allocations and cross‑sector planning between tourism, trade and logistics authorities.
International rankings highlight global connectivity and service quality
The UAE’s performance in independent international indices also reflects the sector’s strength, with the country ranking highly in measures of air transport quality and connectivity. Recent global competitiveness and travel reports place the UAE among the top nations for air transport quality and network capacity, underscoring its role as a major link between global regions.
These rankings, officials said, are both an outcome and a stimulus for continued policy focus on service quality, on‑time performance and the expansion of bilateral and multilateral air service agreements.
The robust 2025 results present a clear picture: growing passenger volumes, expanding aircraft movements and improving global standings. Continued investment in infrastructure, targeted regulatory support and data‑driven planning are central to sustaining the UAE’s position as a leading global aviation hub.