UAE airports recorded 156.8 million passenger movements in 2025, up 6.1% from 147.8 million a year earlier. Aircraft movements reached 855,300, rising 6.8% from 801,000 in 2024.
Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre data cover arrivals, departures and transit movements across UAE airports. Passenger volumes increased by nine million during the year. Transit traffic remained the largest category at 69.5 million movements.
Arrivals climbed 6.1% to 44.2 million, while departures increased 3% to 43 million. Transit movements rose 8% to 64.3 million. Transit passengers represented 44.3% of the federal passenger total.
Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri serves as Minister of Economy and Tourism and Chairman of the General Civil Aviation Authority. Al Marri linked 2025 performance to investment across airports, airlines, air navigation and logistics infrastructure.
Dubai airports handled 104.5 million passenger movements in 2025, up 3.5% from 100.9 million. Federal figures recorded 30.2 million arrivals, 29.5 million departures and 44.7 million transit movements. Dubai generated about 66.6% of the national passenger total.
Abu Dhabi airports processed 34.2 million passenger movements, rising 10.7% from 30.8 million. Traffic comprised 8.3 million arrivals, 7.9 million departures and 17.9 million transit movements. Abu Dhabi supplied 21.8% of total UAE traffic.
Dubai and Abu Dhabi together generated almost 88.5% of federal passenger movements. Both emirates added around seven million movements in 2024. Transit traffic represented about 42.8% of Dubai volumes and 52.3% in Abu Dhabi.
Al Marri outlined continued investment in airport infrastructure, air routes, national skills, logistics services and international partnerships. UAE aviation policy also targets higher service quality across passenger and freight networks.
Sharjah International Airport recorded 16.9 million passenger movements in the federal series, delivering 10.7% annual growth. Passenger flows comprised five million arrivals, five million departures and 6.8 million transit movements.
Ras Al Khaimah exceeded one million passenger movements after volumes increased 56.8% from 639,300 in 2024. Federal data counted 513,900 arrivals, 451,400 departures and 37,500 transit movements.
Fujairah produced the fastest percentage increase among the reported emirates. Passenger movements jumped 170% to 164,600 from 61,100. Arrivals reached 90,200, departures totalled 70,600, and transit traffic reached 3,700.
Sharjah remained the third largest emirate in the federal passenger series. Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah recorded substantially higher traffic from smaller 2024 bases.
UAE airports handled 855,300 aircraft movements during 2025, representing 6.8% annual growth. Passenger movement growth reached 6.1%, leaving aircraft activity 0.7 percentage points higher.
Incoming aircraft movements rose 7.3% to 414,300 from 385,900. Departing movements increased at the same rate to 414,100 from 385,800. Domestic movements between local airports supplied the remaining activity within the federal total.
Operators and airports processed more flights across 2025 while passenger volumes also expanded. Federal figures do not publish load factors within this series. Traffic totals cannot directly quantify airline seat utilisation.
Hanan Mansour Ahli, Director of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre, notes continued development of national statistical systems. Centre data support policy planning, national performance measurement and long-term aviation investment decisions.
UAE ranked first globally for air transport quality in the 2026 IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook. Federal reporting connects that position with aviation infrastructure, operating standards and international connectivity.
Transit movements remained the largest passenger stream at 69.5 million, ahead of arrivals and departures. UAE airports consequently processed substantial connecting volumes alongside expanding origin and destination traffic.
Aircraft activity grew faster than passenger movements, while every reported emirate recorded higher passenger volumes against 2024. Dubai retained the largest share. Abu Dhabi and Sharjah delivered double-digit growth, while Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah recorded sharper percentage gains.
Al Marri outlined continued coordination with local and international partners across airport, airline, navigation and logistics infrastructure. UAE policy aligns aviation investment with the UAE 2031 targets.
