Page 671 - MOET PR REPORT- SEPTEMBER 2025

9/12/25, 3:53 PM UAE airports welcome over 1 billion passengers in 10 years
He added that these outcomes reinforce the UAE’s standing on the global aviation and travel map,
underlining the sector’s active role in driving national economic growth and competitiveness. They also
highlight the country’s pioneering model in building a more efficient and sustainable aviation system,
integrating technological innovations with the highest standards of safety and service quality.

According to the center’s data, passenger traffic across UAE airports rose from 114.8 million in 2015 to
147.8 million in 2024. Total passenger numbers, including arrivals, departures and transit travellers,
exceeded one billion between 2015 and 2024.

Aircraft movements also grew, reaching more than 800,000 by the end of 2024, bringing the total
number of arriving and departing flights during the decade to over 6.4 million.

Read: UAE outbound leisure expenditure jumps 48 percent as family travel accounts for 20
percent of trips

UAE airports welcome 75.4 million passengers in H1 2025

According to civil aviation sector performance indicators for H1 2025, airports across the UAE
welcomed 75.4 million passengers during the first six months of the year, up from 71.7 million
passengers during the same period in 2024, representing a 5 percent increase. January recorded the
highest number of passengers, exceeding 13.7 million travelers.

DXB alone welcomed 46 million guests in the first six months of 2025, marking its busiest first half on
record. The airport witnessed a 2.3 percent year-on-year growth in passenger numbers despite temporary
regional airspace disruptions in May and June, underscoring its resilience and the continued strength of
Dubai’s aviation sector.

UAE national carriers continued their global expansion during the first half of 2025, launching flights to
15 new destinations across Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East. The new cities include destinations
in Russia, Czech Republic, Poland, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Vietnam, Cambodia, Turkey, Iran, Egypt,
Croatia and Ethiopia — further cementing the UAE’s status as a leading global aviation hub.

Air traffic at UAE airports also 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.

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