Page 286 - MOET ENGLISH PR REPORT - AUGUST 2025

8/15/25, 10:20 AM UAE airports welcome 75.4 million passengers in H1 2025, up 5 percent
“The UAE continues to enhance its global and regional standing as an international aviation hub, posting
unprecedented growth rates driven by innovative national initiatives and strategies. This has significantly
strengthened the country’s competitiveness and leadership in this vital sector, which today represents a
key pillar for driving economic growth, diversifying income sources and supporting trade, tourism,
investment and job creation across all aviation-linked sectors,” said Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri,
Minister of Economy and Tourism, and chairman of the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA).

Al Marri added that the performance indicators for the first half of 2025 reflect the resilience and
sustainability of the aviation sector, as well as the competitiveness of the UAE’s airports, national
carriers and air navigation services.

“We see aviation as a bridge connecting the UAE to the world and a key enabler for achieving our long-
term economic objectives. We will continue working to expand the country’s air connectivity with global
markets, supported by a flexible and advanced regulatory framework, ambitious open skies policies and
ongoing infrastructure development plans,” he added.

Read: DXB expected to welcome over 3.6 million guests during back-to-school peak

Air traffic grows 6.2 percent

Air traffic at UAE airports continued its growth during the first half of the current year, recording
531,000 movements, a 6.2 percent increase compared to the same period last year, which saw nearly
500,000 movements.

Riyadh, Jeddah, Kuwait, Mumbai and Bahrain ranked as the top five busiest destinations in terms of
weekly flights to and from the UAE.

In the air cargo segment, the total volume handled across the country’s airports exceeded 2.2 million
tons, marking a 4.74 percent growth compared to the same period last year, with national carriers
accounting for 67 percent of the total cargo traffic.

““We are proud to continue achieving stable growth rates in both passenger and cargo traffic, supported
by ambitious development projects to keep pace with this expansion. The total passenger handling
capacity of the country’s airports now exceeds 160 million, and we are confident that the aviation sector
will continue to play a pivotal role in supporting the national economy, boosting tourism and trade, and
reinforcing the UAE’s position as a leading air transport hub regionally and globally,” said Saif
Mohammed Al Suwaidi, director-general of GCAA.

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