Abu dhabi: Abu Dhabi Airports, operator of the emirate’s five airports including the flagship Zayed International Airport (AUH), recorded more than 33 million annual passengers in 2025, marking the largest influx of travelers in the emirate’s history. This milestone signifies the doubling of traffic volumes over the past three years across the emirate’s airports, with AUH emerging as the fastest-growing mega airport in the Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) region based on the latest traffic data.
According to Emirates News Agency, this achievement was facilitated by the expansion of the airport’s international network, with airlines introducing new destinations, increasing flight frequencies on high-demand routes, and enhancing connectivity across key EMEA and Asian markets. AUH’s network expanded with 39 new route launches and the addition of 7 new airlines. In its second full year of operations, AUH handled approximately 98 percent of all passenger traffic and 73 percent of aircraft movements, recording 8.59 million passengers in Q4 2025, a 13.8 percent increase year-on-year.
The unprecedented growth was further supported by an expanded network, featuring carriers such as China Eastern Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, Eurowings, Jazeera Airways, and Etihad Airways, launching or increasing services to key global destinations. New routes introduced throughout the year included major hubs like Addis Ababa, Atlanta, and Hong Kong, as well as emerging markets such as Berlin, Hanoi, Pune, and Warsaw.
AUH experienced several days when traffic exceeded the milestone of 100,000 passengers per day, reinforcing its position as a preferred hub for both point-to-point and transfer traffic. Ahmed Juma Al Shamisi, Acting Chief Executive Officer at Abu Dhabi Airports, remarked on the achievement, highlighting the operational readiness and strategic efforts to meet growing global demand. He emphasized the focus on maintaining momentum through operational excellence and expanding cargo and logistics capabilities.
The year marked significant milestones for Abu Dhabi Airports, including a record 19th consecutive time of double-digit passenger traffic growth and the first instance of annual traffic crossing 30 million passengers across the emirate’s airports. This consistent trajectory was driven by network expansion, airline partnerships, and investments in capacity and passenger experience.
Traffic at other airports, including Al Bateen Executive Airport (AZI) and Al Ain International Airport (AAN), also showed growth, with AZI witnessing a 15.3 percent increase in aircraft movements in Q4 2025 compared to the previous year, and AAN experiencing a 48.1 percent rise in passenger traffic over Q4 2024.
Cargo volumes at Abu Dhabi Airports saw significant growth, with nearly 770,000 tonnes handled across the emirate’s airports, reflecting a 12 percent year-on-year increase. The year also brought accolades, with AUH being recognized at the 2025 Frontier Awards and the 2025 Aviation Business Awards, achieving ACI’s Level 2 Accessibility Accreditation and Level 3 Customer Experience Accreditation, alongside awards for technology systems and passenger experience initiatives.