UAE airports on track for record 159 million passengers in 2025

Airports across the UAE are projected to handle a record 159 million passengers by the end of 2025, an increase of around 8% on the 147.8 million travellers recorded in 2024, according to the latest figures from the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA).

 

Data covering the first nine months of 2025 show that UAE airports collectively handled 108.6 million passengers, led by record results at Dubai International (DXB), Abu Dhabi Airports – including Zayed International Airport (AUH) – and Sharjah International Airport (SHJ).

 

Dubai International retained its position as the world’s busiest hub for international passengers and, on current airline seat capacity for November 2025, has edged ahead of Atlanta as the world’s busiest airport for the first time, with around 5.29 million scheduled seats, ahead of Atlanta at roughly 5.12 million. 

 

The airport welcomed 70.1 million passengers during the first three quarters of the year and set a new record in Q3, handling 24.2 million passengers, a 1.9% year‑on‑year increase. DXB’s rolling 12‑month total at the end of September reached 93.8 million, the highest in its history.

 

Abu Dhabi Airports also reported robust gains, with passenger volumes climbing to 24.29 million by the end of September. The third quarter alone saw 8.49 million travellers pass through its terminals, marking the 18th consecutive quarter of double-digit growth. Zayed International Airport accounted for 8.35 million of the total. 

 

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The 10.1% year-on-year increase keeps the operator on track to surpass its 2024 full-year figure of 29 million passengers, growth that has been buoyed by new routes and airline launches, including China Eastern Airlines’ daily service connecting Abu Dhabi and Shanghai, introduced in April.

 

Sharjah International Airport also maintained strong growth, handling 14.2 million passengers in the first nine months of the year. In Q3 alone, the airport processed 5.1 million passengers – its busiest quarter on record – representing a 16.7% increase on the same period last year.

 

Again, new carriers and connectivity have fuelled the growth, including Saudi Arabia’s low-cost carrier Flynas and Air Arabia launching new routes to European destinations, including the airport’s first connection with London.

 

Looking ahead, industry forecasts suggest Middle East passenger traffic will continue to outpace the global average in 2025 and 2026, supported by sustained investment in airport capacity and fleet renewal across the region. Middle Eastern carriers are currently growing almost twice as fast as the global market, with August 2025 RPKs up about 8% year-on-year versus roughly 4.6% worldwide, underlining the strength of demand feeding into UAE hubs.

 

For more information, visit gcaa.gov.ae