Abu Dhabi Airports are leading the way in the region and beyond
Abu Dhabi Airports are now officially on a record-breaking streak.
The capital welcomed more than 33 million passengers across its five airports; the largest number in the emirate’s history.
And the crown jewel, Zayed International Airport (AUH), has emerged as the fastest-growing mega airport in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA). Talk about going global.
It’s the first time ever that the emirate’s annual traffic has crossed the 30 million mark, and AUH alone accounted for a whopping 98 per cent of passengers in Q4 2025.
That’s 8.59 million travelers streaming through its gates, a 13.8per cent increase year-on-year. Some days even saw over 100,000 passengers in a single day; a true badge of airport efficiency and popularity.
This surge is thanks to more routes, more airlines, and more choices. In 2025, Zayed International Airport added 39 new routes and welcomed seven new airlines, connecting the capital to major hubs like Atlanta, Hong Kong, and Addis Ababa, as well as emerging cities including Berlin, Hanoi, Pune, and Warsaw.
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Travellers have never had so many options to take off from Abu Dhabi.
It wasn’t just about passengers; cargo volumes also soared, handling nearly 770,000 tonnes, up 12 per cent year-on-year, proving Abu Dhabi is not just a travel hub but a logistics powerhouse.
And the awards keep rolling in: AUH was crowned Best Airport for Retail at the Frontier Awards, earned a Highly Commended nod at the Aviation Business Awards, and bagged Level 2 Accessibility and Level 3 Customer Experience Accreditations.
Add to that accolades for tech innovations and passenger-friendly initiatives, and it’s clear AUH is leading the pack.
Ahmed Juma Al Shamisi, Acting CEO of Abu Dhabi Airports, summed it up perfectly: “This milestone shows that Abu Dhabi is ready for the world.
“With growing networks, airline partnerships, and continued investments in passenger experience, the emirate’s airports are soaring to new heights in 2026 and beyond.”
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