The United Arab Emirates aviation sector delivered record performance in 2025, with Dubai International Airport (DXB) handling 95.2 million passengers, its busiest year on record and the highest annual international traffic ever recorded by a single airport globally. Flight movements rose to 454,800, while 86.75 million bags were processed with a 99.75% success rate.
Abu Dhabi Airports welcomed more than 33 million passengers across its network, while Sharjah Airport handled 19.48 million travellers. Ras Al Khaimah International Airport surpassed one million passengers for the first time.
Looking ahead, Dubai Airports has forecast 99.5 million passengers in 2026, as expansion of Al Maktoum International accelerates to support long-term capacity growth and reinforce the UAE’s role as a global aviation and logistics hub.
Gulf Economist Staff Writer