Abu Dhabi Airports report over 13% passenger traffic growth in first half of 2025

In the first half of the year, the network added 16 new destinations and welcomed new airline partners.

Abu Dhabi Airports reports 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, 2025, Abu Dhabi Airports reported to have welcomed more than 15.8 million passengers, a 13.1 per cent increase over figures from the first half of 2024.

Zayed International Airport (AUH) said to have 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 is said to be 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.

Elena Sorlini, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer at Abu Dhabi Airports, said, “The first six months of this year have posed some operational challenges, yet our exceptional mid-year results demonstrate the resilience of our network and the collaborative partnerships that underpin our growth. Consistently delivering positive growth for the past 17 quarters is testament to the dedication and collective effort of the entire Abu Dhabi Airports team.”