Abu Dhabi Airports Sees 13% Passenger Growth In H1 2025

Photo: WAM

Abu Dhabi Airports announced that it saw a big rise in the number of people travelling through its airports in the first six months of 2025. Between 1st January and 30th June 2025, over 15.8 million passengers travelled through its network of airports. This was 13.1 percent more than the same time last year in 2024.

Role Of Zayed International Airport (AUH)

The main reason for this increase was Zayed International Airport (AUH). It handled 15.5 million passengers until the end of June. This number was 13.2 percent higher than what was recorded in the first half of 2024. AUH continues to be the busiest airport in Abu Dhabi and is helping the emirate become a major hub for international travellers.

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Increase In Flights Across All Airports

The rise in passengers was also supported by an increase in the number of flights. In the first half of 2025, there were 133,533 flights across Abu Dhabi’s five airports. This was a 9.2 percent increase compared to the same period in 2024. At AUH alone, 93,858 aircraft movements were recorded, which is 11.4 percent more than the 84,286 flights it had in the first half of 2024.

New Routes And Airlines Added

Abu Dhabi Airports is working to connect more cities around the world. In the first half of this year, they added 16 new destinations and welcomed several new airlines to their network.

Some of the notable additions include:

• China Eastern Airlines starting four flights per week to Shanghai. From September, this will become a daily flight.

• Air Seychelles starting six weekly flights.

• Fly Cham beginning flights to Damascus.

• IndiGo increasing its routes from AUH with new flights to Madurai, Bhubaneswar, and Vishakhapatnam in India. This made AUH the airline’s most connected hub in the UAE.

These new routes are important because they make it easier for travellers to fly directly to their destinations without changing flights. It also shows that Abu Dhabi is becoming an important place for airlines to operate from.

What The CEO Said

Elena Sorlini, who is the Managing Director and CEO of Abu Dhabi Airports, said that the growth seen over the past 17 quarters shows how hard the team has worked. She said that this growth is because of the dedication and collective effort of everyone working at Abu Dhabi Airports. She also mentioned that this shows their operational strength, their ability to adjust quickly, and their focus on giving travellers a great experience. The growth is also making Abu Dhabi attractive to international investors who want to be part of the airport’s future projects.

Cargo Operations Also Growing

It was not just passenger numbers that increased. The airports also saw strong growth in cargo operations. In the first six months of 2025, Abu Dhabi Airports handled 344,795 tonnes of cargo. This increase shows that Abu Dhabi is becoming an important place for global trade. The cargo growth was helped by strategic partnerships and improvements in their infrastructure.

One important agreement signed this year was with JD Property, which is the infrastructure company of China’s big e-commerce group JD.com. They will build a 70,000 square metre modern facility that will use advanced technology. This centre will help meet the growing demand for e-commerce deliveries and special cargo logistics across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region.

Work At Sir Bani Yas Airport

In the first half of 2025, Abu Dhabi Airports completed rehabilitation works at Sir Bani Yas Airport. This is important for improving the UAE’s aviation infrastructure and supporting the eco-tourism goals of Al Dhafra. Sir Bani Yas is known for its natural beauty, wildlife, and resorts, and the airport improvements will make it easier for tourists to visit the island comfortably.

Awards And Recognitions

Zayed International Airport (AUH) was also awarded the 3 Pearl Estidama rating for construction. This rating shows that the airport was built with high environmental and sustainability standards.

In addition, AUH was named the ‘Best Airport at Arrivals Globally’ for the third year in a row at the ACI Airport Service Quality (ASQ) Awards. This award means that passengers arriving at AUH have rated it as the best in the world for their arrival experience.

Advances At Al Bateen Executive Airport

At Al Bateen Executive Airport, there was progress in a partnership with Bombardier, which is a global leader in business jets. They are setting up a dedicated service facility at the airport. This new facility will help improve maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services. It will also support Abu Dhabi’s goal of becoming a centre of excellence for aviation services in the region.

Focus On Sustainability And Innovation

Abu Dhabi Airports also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with TAQA Distribution. This MoU will look into adding new utility technologies across its airports. This means that Abu Dhabi Airports is planning to use advanced, next-generation technologies to make its operations more innovative and environmentally friendly. This move is part of their long-term vision to become a leader in sustainability in the aviation sector.

Conclusion: Abu Dhabi Airports’ Strong Future

The first half of 2025 has been very successful for Abu Dhabi Airports. With more passengers, more flights, and growing cargo operations, it is clear that Abu Dhabi is becoming a major aviation hub in the region and the world. The addition of new routes, improved airport facilities, and strong partnerships are all part of Abu Dhabi Airports’ growth strategy to expand its network and strengthen its role in global trade and tourism.

The achievements so far show that the emirate is committed to developing its airports, attracting more travellers, and supporting economic growth by connecting Abu Dhabi to the rest of the world in better and smarter ways.