Dubai Airport named world’s best for food & shopping in 2025 AirHelp Score, as Middle East airports dominate global rankings.
Dubai:Dubai International Airport (DXB) has claimed the top global spot for food and retail services, according to the 2025 AirHelp Score—a prestigious ranking by global passenger rights firm AirHelp. Scoring an impressive 9.1 out of 10 in the Food & Shops category, DXB has officially been named the world’s No.1 airport for culinary and retail experiences.
Overall, Dubai International Airport secured 18th place globally with a solid score of 8.14. Abu Dhabi International Airport followed closely behind, ranking 19th with a score of 8.11—reinforcing the UAE’s growing prominence in global aviation excellence.
The AirHelp Score 2025 analysed 250 airports across 68 countries, focusing on three core metrics: Punctuality, Customer Opinions, and Food & Shops. The latest edition showcases a significant leap for the Middle East, with eight regional airports now listed in the global top 20—up from just two in 2024.
Leading the regional surge is Qatar’s Hamad International Airport in Doha, which claimed second place globally with 8.52 points and topped the category for mega airports operating over 250,000 flights annually. Riyadh’s King Khaled International Airport made one of the most significant jumps—rising from 33rd to 3rd globally, with a score of 8.47. Muscat International Airport followed closely, securing fifth place worldwide with the same score.
Cape Town International Airport took the overall global top spot with 8.57 points, reflecting excellence across all measured categories.
Commenting on the rankings, Tomasz Pawliszyn, CEO of AirHelp, stated: “At AirHelp, we believe that airport performance should go beyond just flight schedules. With the AirHelp Score, we aim to empower travellers to make informed choices based on overall airport experiences, particularly in key areas like retail, dining, and customer satisfaction.”
Launched in 2015, the AirHelp Score has become a trusted global resource for evaluating airline and airport service quality. This year, AirHelp has separated airport and airline rankings to provide more focused insights ahead of the busy summer travel season—offering passengers real-time, reliable data to navigate their journeys more confidently.
Dubai Airport No.1 now adds another accolade to its ever-growing list of international recognitions.
