emirates7 - Abu Dhabi Airports reported that it welcomed more than 15.8 million passengers between January 1 and June 30, 2025—a 13.1% increase compared to the same timeframe in 2024.
A major contributor to this growth was Zayed International Airport (AUH), which handled 15.5 million passengers in the first half of the year, reflecting a 13.2% year-on-year increase.
The surge in passenger numbers was further supported by a total of 133,533 flights across the group’s five airports, up 9.2% from the previous year. AUH alone saw 93,858 aircraft movements—an 11.4% jump from the 84,286 recorded during the same period in 2024.
Abu Dhabi Airports continues to prioritize expanding its global connectivity. In the first half of 2025, it introduced 16 new destinations and added new airline partners. Highlights include China Eastern Airlines launching a four-times-weekly Shanghai service (to become daily by September), Air Seychelles adding six weekly flights, and Fly Cham commencing service to Damascus. IndiGo also reinforced its operations at AUH by launching new routes to Madurai, Bhubaneswar, and Vishakhapatnam—making AUH its most connected hub in the UAE.
CEO Elena Sorlini credited the consistent 17-quarter growth streak to the hard work and agility of the Abu Dhabi Airports team, underscoring their focus on excellence, efficiency, and global appeal.
Cargo operations also witnessed strong performance, with 344,795 tonnes of freight processed in the first half of 2025. This growth was supported by key partnerships and infrastructure developments, including a joint venture with JD Property—the infrastructure division of Chinese e-commerce leader JD.com. The deal includes plans for a cutting-edge 70,000-square-meter logistics facility aimed at boosting east-west e-commerce and cargo movement across the GCC and MENA regions.
Abu Dhabi Airports also marked several infrastructure and sustainability milestones. Sir Bani Yas Airport completed vital rehabilitation work, supporting eco-tourism in Al Dhafra. AUH earned a 3 Pearl Estidama sustainability rating for construction and retained its title as the "Best Airport at Arrivals Globally" for the third year in a row at the ACI ASQ Awards.
At Al Bateen Executive Airport, the partnership with Bombardier advanced with the development of a specialized maintenance facility, strengthening Abu Dhabi’s capabilities in aviation MRO (maintenance, repair, and overhaul).
Furthermore, a new Memorandum of Understanding with TAQA Distribution aims to explore the use of advanced utility technologies across the airport network, aligning with Abu Dhabi Airports’ long-term commitment to innovation and sustainable growth.
A major contributor to this growth was Zayed International Airport (AUH), which handled 15.5 million passengers in the first half of the year, reflecting a 13.2% year-on-year increase.
The surge in passenger numbers was further supported by a total of 133,533 flights across the group’s five airports, up 9.2% from the previous year. AUH alone saw 93,858 aircraft movements—an 11.4% jump from the 84,286 recorded during the same period in 2024.
Abu Dhabi Airports continues to prioritize expanding its global connectivity. In the first half of 2025, it introduced 16 new destinations and added new airline partners. Highlights include China Eastern Airlines launching a four-times-weekly Shanghai service (to become daily by September), Air Seychelles adding six weekly flights, and Fly Cham commencing service to Damascus. IndiGo also reinforced its operations at AUH by launching new routes to Madurai, Bhubaneswar, and Vishakhapatnam—making AUH its most connected hub in the UAE.
CEO Elena Sorlini credited the consistent 17-quarter growth streak to the hard work and agility of the Abu Dhabi Airports team, underscoring their focus on excellence, efficiency, and global appeal.
Cargo operations also witnessed strong performance, with 344,795 tonnes of freight processed in the first half of 2025. This growth was supported by key partnerships and infrastructure developments, including a joint venture with JD Property—the infrastructure division of Chinese e-commerce leader JD.com. The deal includes plans for a cutting-edge 70,000-square-meter logistics facility aimed at boosting east-west e-commerce and cargo movement across the GCC and MENA regions.
Abu Dhabi Airports also marked several infrastructure and sustainability milestones. Sir Bani Yas Airport completed vital rehabilitation work, supporting eco-tourism in Al Dhafra. AUH earned a 3 Pearl Estidama sustainability rating for construction and retained its title as the "Best Airport at Arrivals Globally" for the third year in a row at the ACI ASQ Awards.
At Al Bateen Executive Airport, the partnership with Bombardier advanced with the development of a specialized maintenance facility, strengthening Abu Dhabi’s capabilities in aviation MRO (maintenance, repair, and overhaul).
Furthermore, a new Memorandum of Understanding with TAQA Distribution aims to explore the use of advanced utility technologies across the airport network, aligning with Abu Dhabi Airports’ long-term commitment to innovation and sustainable growth.