Abu Dhabi Airports Achieves Record Traffic in 2025
Abu Dhabi Airports has recorded a historic milestone, achieving over 33 million annual passengers in 2025. This represents the highest volume of travelers ever seen in the emirate’s history. Over the past three years, traffic at the five airports under its operation has doubled, positioning Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH) as the fastest-growing mega airport in the Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) region.
Record Growth in Passenger Traffic
During 2025, AUH expanded its network significantly, launching 39 new routes and welcoming seven new airlines. In its second year of operations, AUH accounted for approximately 98% of Abu Dhabi’s total passenger traffic and 73% of all aircraft movements. The airport processed 8.59 million passengers in the fourth quarter of 2025, reflecting a year-on-year increase of 13.8%.
New Routes and Additional Airlines
This substantial growth can be attributed to the launch or enhancement of services by various airlines. Notable carriers such as China Eastern Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, Eurowings, Jazeera Airways, and Etihad Airways have introduced new flights to key global destinations. The new routes include major cities like:
- Addis Ababa
- Atlanta
- Hong Kong
- Berlin
- Hanoi
- Pune
- Warsaw
Throughout the year, AUH saw several operational days surpassing 100,000 passengers, highlighting its efficiency as a hub for both point-to-point and transfer traffic.
Leadership Insights and Future Goals
Ahmed Juma Al Shamisi, Acting CEO at Abu Dhabi Airports, noted that exceeding the 33 million passenger mark underscores the organization’s operational readiness to meet increasing global demands. He emphasized the commitment to achieving operational excellence and expanding cargo and logistics capabilities to support Abu Dhabi’s development as a global aviation hub.
Significant Milestones and Achievements
In 2025, several notable achievements marked a year of firsts for Abu Dhabi Airports:
- Nineteenth consecutive year of double-digit growth in passenger traffic.
- First instance of annual traffic exceeding 30 million passengers across all five airports.
Additionally, Abu Dhabi’s other airports also experienced growth. Al Bateen Executive Airport (AZI) reported a 15.3% increase in aircraft movements in Q4 2025, compared to the previous year, while Al Ain International Airport (AAN) saw an impressive 48.1% growth in passenger traffic over the same period.
Strong Performance in Cargo Operations
The emirate’s airports handled nearly 770,000 tonnes of cargo in 2025, marking a 12% increase year-on-year. This growth underscores the region’s enhancing significance in global trade routes.
Acknowledgments and Accolades
Further establishing its reputation in aviation, Abu Dhabi Airports received multiple awards in 2025. Highlights include:
- Best Airport for Retail at the 2025 Frontier Awards.
- Highly Commended recognition at the 2025 Aviation Business Awards.
- ACI’s Level 2 Accessibility Accreditation.
- Level 3 Customer Experience Accreditation.
Through innovative technology and enhanced passenger experience initiatives, Abu Dhabi Airports continues to set a high standard in the aviation industry.
