UAE airports recorded over 1 billion passengers and 6.4 million flights from 2015 to 2024, topping global air transport rankings.
ABU DHABI: The UAE’s aviation sector has achieved a historic milestone, with total passenger traffic across the country’s airports surpassing one billion between 2015 and 2024, according to the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre. Over the same period, aircraft movements exceeded 6.4 million flights, underlining the country’s rapid growth in civil aviation.
The report also reveals that passenger numbers climbed from 114.8 million in 2015 to 147.8 million in 2024. These figures include arriving, departing, and transit passengers, marking the UAE as a key global aviation hub.
The country ranked first globally in the air transport quality index and placed among the top ten in five other international aviation indicators. Officials attribute these achievements to visionary national strategies, infrastructure investments, and leadership directives focused on sustainability, efficiency, and innovation.
Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism and Chairman of the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), said the aviation sector has become a cornerstone of the UAE’s economic model. “Our airports reflect the UAE’s commitment to excellence and our readiness to shape the future of global air travel,” he stated.
With state-of-the-art technology and service standards, UAE airports continue to boost the country’s competitiveness while supporting tourism, business travel, and logistics.
