Abu Dhabi Airports record passenger traffic growth in H1 2025

Abu Dhabi Airports has reported double-digit passenger traffic growth for a 17th consecutive quarter as well as strong flight movement and cargo growth in the first half of 2025.

Between January 1 and June 30, Abu Dhabi Airports welcomed more than 15.8 million passengers, a significant 13.1 per cent increase over figures from the first half of 2024.

Zayed International Airport (AUH) played a pivotal role in the increase, with 15.5 million passengers walking through its gates until the end of June – up 13.2 per cent year-on-year. This rise in passenger traffic was also supported by 133,533 total flights across the five airports in the first half of 2025, representing a 9.2 per cent rise from the same period last year.

AUH registered 93,858 aircraft movements, 11.4 per cent over H1 2024 when it recorded 84,286 flights.

In the first half of the year, the network added 16 new destinations and welcomed new airline partners. Notable additions include China Eastern Airlines’ four-times-weekly Shanghai service (with daily service commencing in September), Air Seychelles’ six weekly flights, and Fly Cham’s service to Damascus. IndiGo also strengthened its presence at AUH with new routes to Madurai, Bhubaneswar, and Vishakhapatnam, further cementing AUH as the airline’s most connected hub in the UAE.

“The first six months of this year have posed some operational challenges, yet our expectational mid-year results demonstrate the resilience of our network and the collaborative partnerships that underpin our growth," said Elena Sorlini, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer at Abu Dhabi Airports. "As Abu Dhabi’s tourism and trade prospects rapidly advance, our airports are well positioned to support and scale that growth.”

Abu Dhabi Airports also demonstrated significant growth in cargo operations highlighting the emirate's growing significance in global trade. In the first six months of 2025, it handled a total of 344,795 tonnes of cargo year-to-date, bolstered by strategic partnerships and ongoing infrastructure enhancements.