UAE Airports Achieve 1 Billion Passenger Count Since 2015

UAE airports have reached an incredible milestone with more than one billion passengers from 2015 to 2024. This achievement showcases the nation’s aviation sector’s success and its growing influence worldwide in the last decade.

Passenger traffic at UAE airports grew from 114.8 million in 2015 to 147.8 million in 2024[-2]. The total number of aircraft movements reached 6.4 million[-2], and by late 2024, this number climbed to 800,000. UAE airports’ growth continues strong into 2025, with 75.4 million passengers in just the first six months – a 5 percent jump from 2024.

UAE’s commitment to building reliable aviation infrastructure has paid off. The country’s major airports keep setting new records, and January 2025 was particularly impressive with 13.7 million travelers. UAE airports can now handle more than 160 million passengers annually, which shows how far they’ve come.

Dubai International leads UAE airports in passenger volume

_{Image Source: Blacklane}

Dubai International Airport (DXB) has managed to keep its status as UAE’s crown jewel by setting new records in passenger traffic. The airport reached its highest annual traffic with 92.3 million passengers in 2024 and beat its previous record of 89.1 million from 2018. The growth continued strong into 2025 as DXB welcomed 46 million travelers during the first six months.

January 2025 brought exceptional results with 8.5 million passengers. April became the second quarter’s busiest month and served 8 million guests. These numbers showed DXB’s robust performance even with regional airspace disruptions that affected May and June.

Airports Council International rankings show that DXB has been the world’s busiest international airport since 2014. The airport’s decade of leadership has served more than 700 million passengers through over 3.3 million flights.

DXB’s largest market remains India with 5.9 million travelers in early 2025. Saudi Arabia follows with 3.6 million passengers and the UK ranks third with 3 million. London tops the city-wise rankings with 1.8 million passengers. Riyadh and Mumbai complete the top three destinations with 1.5 million and 1.2 million passengers respectively.

The airport expects to handle about 96 million passengers by the end of 2025. DXB should reach its 100 million milestone in 2026, beating the original forecast by a year.

Government strategies drive aviation sector success

_{Image Source: Al Jazeera}

The UAE government’s visionary approach has turned aviation into the life-blood of national economic sustainability. The sector’s achievements come from successful national strategies implemented under leadership guidance, according to Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Chairman of the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA).

Smart aviation policies have raised the industry from nowhere near 1% of GDP at the country’s founding in 1971 to 13.3% today. The UAE has signed 189 air cooperation agreements that represent over 90% of countries worldwide, securing its first-place global ranking in air transport agreements.

Leadership’s forward-looking vision has committed approximately AED 500 billion ($136 billion) to aviation over a decade through state-of-the-art infrastructure investments. The AED 128.52 billion Al Maktoum International Airport expansion in Dubai stands out among these projects.

IATA projects UAE’s air transport market will grow by 170% over the next twenty years. This growth will add 101 million passenger flights by 2037, contribute AED 468.91 billion to the economy and create 1.4 million jobs.

The UAE has pioneered regulatory breakthroughs by issuing the world’s first framework for hybrid operations that enables both conventional helicopters and electric aircraft to use the same infrastructure. The country also aims to produce 700 million liters of Sustainable Aviation Fuel annually by 2030.

UAE aviation sector strengthens economic sustainability

_{Image Source: Emirates NBD Research}

The UAE’s aviation sector stands as a key economic driver that adds over USD 92 billion to the national economy each year. This represents about 18% of the country’s GDP. The economic impact reaches many sectors and builds a strong base to propel development.

Airlines, airport operations, air navigation services, and aerospace manufacturing directly employ 206,800 people. These create USD 26.6 billion in economic output, which makes up 5.3% of total GDP. The wider aviation ecosystem supports nearly 991,500 jobs through supply chains, employee spending, and tourism.

Dubai’s aviation sector made an impressive contribution of AED 137 billion (USD 37.3 billion) to its economy in 2023. This accounts for 27% of Dubai’s GDP and should grow to almost one-third by 2030. The sector now supports 631,000 jobs in Dubai – that’s one in every five jobs in the emirate.

Aviation-powered tourism plays a vital role in economic growth. Dubai’s tourism sector brought in AED 43 billion in 2023. Experts predict this number will jump by more than 40% by 2030. International travelers who flew to Dubai spent around AED 66 billion last year.

UAE major airports handle 4.36 million tons of cargo every year. This makes the country the world’s seventh-largest air cargo market. These numbers show how UAE airports play a vital role in global trade and economic stability.

UAE airports have reached an incredible milestone – over one billion passengers in just ten years. This achievement proves the country’s excellence in aviation. Passenger numbers grew by a lot from 114.8 million in 2015 to 147.8 million in 2024. Aircraft movements topped 6.4 million during this time. Dubai International Airport stands out as the world’s busiest international airport since 2014. It has served more than 700 million passengers with over 3.3 million flights in this decade.

The UAE government’s bold vision made this success possible. Aviation’s contribution to GDP jumped from less than 1% when the country was founded to 13.3% today. On top of that, about AED 500 billion in strategic investments have created a resilient infrastructure across the nation. The AED 128.52 billion Al Maktoum International Airport expansion showcases this commitment.

Aviation’s effect on the economy reaches way beyond the reach and influence of airport terminals. The sector now adds more than USD 92 billion yearly to the national economy – about 18% of GDP. It creates jobs for nearly 991,500 people through different channels. Dubai’s aviation sector alone boosted the emirate’s economy by AED 137 billion in 2023, making up 27% of its GDP.

DXB plans to welcome about 96 million passengers by the end of 2025. The airport should hit the 100 million mark in 2026. IATA’s predictions show the UAE air transport market will grow 170% in the next twenty years. This is a big deal as it means that passenger flights could increase by 101 million by 2037.

This billion-passenger achievement is more than just a number – it’s the foundation for future economic growth and global connectivity. UAE airports have become key players in global aviation through clear vision, major investments, and excellent operations. They connect continents, boost trade, and will continue to drive national prosperity for years to come.