Civil aviation in the UAE records growth at a rate of 5% and more than 75 million passengers through state airports

The civil aviation sector in the UAE recorded a remarkable growth in performance indicators during the first half of the year 2025, as the movement of passengers, air freight and air movement recorded positive indicators confirming the strength of the sector and the continuity of its growth.

The results of the indicators of the performance of the civil aviation sector in the country during the first half of 2025 showed significant growth, as the airports of the country received during the first six months of this year 75.4 million passengers, compared to 71.7 million passengers during the same period last year, achieving a growth of 5%. January was the highest in terms of the intensity of the number of passengers, as it recorded more than 13.7 million passengers.

UAE national airlines also witnessed a remarkable expansion in their global network during the first half of 2025, as it launched flights to 15 new destinations across Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East. These expansions included the addition of new cities in a number of countries, including Russia, the Czech Republic, Poland, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Vietnam, Cambodia, Turkey, Iran, Egypt, Croatia, Ethiopia, and Somalia, in addition to the current destinations, in order to enhance the position of the UAE as a leading global center in the field of aviation.

On this occasion, Abdullah bin Touq Al -Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the General Authority of Civil Aviation, affirmed that the UAE, thanks to the directives of its rational leadership, continues to consolidate its global and regional position as an international destination for air transport by registering unprecedented growth rates, as a result of innovative national initiatives and strategies, which contributed to enhancing its competitiveness and leadership in this vital sector, which today represents an essential pillar in pushing growth The economist and diversify its sources, a major tributary for trade, tourism and investment, and create extensive job opportunities in various sectors related to air transport.

He added: “The performance indicators reflect during the first half of the year 2025 the flexibility and sustainability of the aviation sector, in addition to the competitiveness of the state airports and national tankers and the efficiency of air navigation management, and we look at flying as a bridge that connects the UAE to the world, and a major possible ability to achieve our long -term economic goals, and we will continue to work to strengthen the state’s air link network with global markets, benefiting from a sophisticated and flexible legislative environment, and openness Ambiguity, expansion and development plans for infrastructure. “

Saif Muhammad Al -Suwaidi, Director General of the General Authority of Civil Aviation said: “The aviation sector, thanks to the directives and support of the wise leadership, is moving steadily towards more growing and prosperous horizons, and these positive indicators embody the power of the sector’s infrastructure, and the effectiveness of integrated efforts from all our partners in airports, airlines and air navigation officials.”

Al -Suwaidi added: “We are proud to continue achieving stable growth rates on the Saidi travelers and shipping, and we have ambitious development projects to keep pace with this growth, as the total capacity of the state’s airports currently reaches more than 160 million passengers, and we are confident that the aviation sector will continue its pivotal role in supporting the national economy, enhancing the movement of tourism and commercial exchange, and consolidating the UAE’s position as a major center for air transport regionally and globally.”

In detail, the air traffic in the country continued its growth during the first half of this year, to record 531 thousand air movements, with a growth rate of 6.2% compared to the same period last year, which recorded nearly 500 thousand air movements, and Riyadh, Jeddah, Kuwait, Mumbai and Bahrain topped the list of the five highest and most active destinations in terms of the number of weekly flights to and from the state.

In terms of air freight, the total shipping volume through state airports reached more than 2.2 million tons, with a growth rate of 4.74% compared to the same period last year, while national carriers acquired 67% of the total shipping movement.