Abu Dhabi Airports, which operates the emirate’s five airports, including the flagship Zayed International Airport (AUH), recorded annual passenger numbers of more than 33 million in 2025, the highest number of travelers in the emirate’s history.
This sustained trajectory has seen traffic volumes at the emirate’s five airports double in the past three years, with AUH emerging as the fastest growing mega-airport in the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region, based on the latest traffic statistics.
Beating all previous traffic records in the emirate was made possible by the continued expansion of the airport’s international network as the airline added new destinations, increased frequency on high-demand routes and deepened connections across key markets in EMEA and Asia.
In total, AUH’s network has expanded with the opening of 39 routes and the addition of seven new airlines. In its second full year of operation, AUH recorded 8.59 million passengers passing through its gates in the fourth quarter of 2025, accounting for approximately 98% of all passenger traffic and 73% of aircraft movements, an increase of 13.8% year-on-year.
This unprecedented growth was driven by network expansion as airlines such as China Eastern Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, Eurowings, Jazeera Airways and Etihad Airways launched or expanded their services to major destinations around the world. New routes added throughout the year ranged from major hubs such as Addis Ababa, Atlanta and Hong Kong to emerging markets such as Berlin, Hanoi, Pune and Warsaw.
AUH also had several days throughout the year where traffic exceeded the 100,000-passenger-per-day milestone. This is a key indicator of efficiency and success at the airport, reinforcing AUH’s position as a preferred hub for both point-to-point and transit traffic.
Ahmed Juma Al Shamisi, Acting Chief Executive Officer of Abu Dhabi Airports, said: “Crossing the 33 million passenger milestone is a proud achievement for our team. It is also a clear indicator of our operational readiness to meet growing global demand. This achievement is the result of hard work at all levels of Abu Dhabi Airports to deliver on the strategic mission set by our leadership. We remain focused on maintaining this momentum through operational excellence and continued expansion of cargo and logistics.” We ensure we can provide the world-class infrastructure and quality of service needed to support Abu Dhabi’s continued growth as a global aviation hub. ”
The year marked a number of important firsts for Abu Dhabi Airports, including the 19th consecutive double-digit growth in passenger traffic and annual traffic across the emirate’s five airports exceeding 30 million passengers for the first time. These results reflect a consistent multi-year trajectory driven by network expansion, airline partnerships, and continued investment in capacity and passenger experience.
Other airports in Abu Dhabi, including Al Bateen Executive Airport (AZI) and Al Ain International Airport (AAN), are also seeing increased traffic. Aircraft movements at AZI increased by 15.3% year over year in Q4 2025 and by 7% for the year. Meanwhile, AAN saw a significant increase in passenger numbers, increasing by 48.1% compared to Q4 2024 and 9.2% for the year.
Cargo volumes at Abu Dhabi Airports also increased significantly in 2025. During the year, the emirate’s five airports handled around 770,000 tonnes of cargo, an increase of 12% year-on-year. This highlights the growing attractiveness of route trade through the emirate-facilitated corridor.
The year also marked several other achievements, including winning Best Airport for Retail at the 2025 Frontier Awards and Highly Commended at the 2025 Aviation Business Awards. AUH also earned ACI’s Level 2 Accessibility Certification and the coveted Level 3 Customer Experience Certification, as well as awards for its cutting-edge technology systems and commitment to passenger experience.
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