Abu Dhabi Airports shatters records with over 33 million passengers
New routes, rising cargo, and awards mark 2025 success
ABU DHABI – Abu Dhabi Airports, operator of the emirate’s five airports including Zayed International Airport (AUH), welcomed over 33 million passengers in 2025, the highest annual traffic in the emirate’s history.
This milestone reflects sustained growth across the aviation network, with traffic volumes doubling over the past three years.
AUH, the flagship hub, emerged as the fastest-growing mega airport in the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region, according to the latest figures.
Rapid expansion
Surpassing previous records was driven by an expanding international network. Airlines introduced new destinations, increased frequencies on high-demand routes, and strengthened connectivity across key markets in EMEA and Asia. AUH alone added 39 new routes and welcomed seven new airlines throughout the year.
Abu Dhabi Airports closed 2025 with record traffic figures, marking a period of sustained growth, operational strength, and strategic progress across its portfolio. pic.twitter.com/3jSykl0nOy
— ABU DHABI AIRPORTS مطارات أبوظبي (@ad_airports) January 29, 2026
In its second full year of operations, AUH accounted for roughly 98 percent of all passenger traffic and 73 percent of aircraft movements across the emirate. The airport recorded 8.59 million passengers in Q4 2025, up 13.8 percent from the same period in 2024. Airlines including China Eastern, Ethiopian, Eurowings, Jazeera Airways, and Etihad increased services to major hubs such as Addis Ababa, Atlanta, and Hong Kong, while opening routes to emerging markets including Berlin, Hanoi, Pune, and Warsaw.
Several days in 2025 saw AUH surpass 100,000 passengers in a single day, a significant operational milestone demonstrating the airport’s efficiency and appeal as a hub for both point-to-point and transfer travellers.
Ahmed Juma Al Shamisi, Acting CEO of Abu Dhabi Airports, said: "Surpassing the 33 million passenger milestone is a proud achievement for our teams. It reflects our operational readiness to meet growing global demand and the hard work across every level of Abu Dhabi Airports. We remain focused on maintaining this momentum through operational excellence and expanding our cargo and logistics capabilities to support Abu Dhabi’s growth as a global aviation hub."
Emirate-wide growth
The year 2025 marked several historic firsts, including the 19th consecutive year of double-digit growth for passenger traffic and the first time annual traffic across all five airports exceeded 30 million passengers.
Al Bateen Executive Airport (AZI) saw aircraft movements rise 15.3 percent in Q4 and 7 percent annually, while Al Ain International Airport (AAN) recorded passenger growth of 48.1 percent in Q4 and 9.2 percent for the year.
Cargo and awards
Cargo volumes across the emirate grew to nearly 770,000 tonnes, a 12 percent increase from 2024, signalling Abu Dhabi’s rising appeal as a logistics and trade hub.
Abu Dhabi Airports also received numerous accolades in 2025. AUH was named Best Airport for Retail at the Frontier Awards, Highly Commended at the Aviation Business Awards, and achieved ACI’s Level 2 Accessibility Accreditation along with Level 3 Customer Experience Accreditation. The airport also garnered awards for its advanced technology systems and passenger experience initiatives.