Prime Highlights:
- UAE airports handled over 1 billion passengers between 2015 and 2024, marking a major milestone in global aviation.
- The UAE ranked first worldwide in air transport quality, strengthening its reputation as a leading aviation hub.
Key Facts:
- Aircraft movements exceeded 6.4 million during the past decade, with over 800,000 in 2024 alone.
- Passenger numbers grew from 114.8 million in 2015 to 147.8 million in 2024, covering arrivals, departures, and transit travellers.
Key Background:
The UAE has achieved a major milestone in aviation, with its airports serving more than one billion passengers between 2015 and 2024, according to the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre. This shows the country’s position as one of the busiest and most important aviation hubs in the world.
The report mentioned that aircraft movements went beyond 6.4 million during this time, showing consistent growth. Over 800,000 aircraft flew in and out, and the number of passengers grew to 147.8 million compared to 114.8 million in 2015. These numbers encompass arrivals and departures as well as transit passengers, which underscores that the UAE is a global travel centre.
The nation’s aviation industry has also earned international recognition for its quality. The UAE ranked first in the world for air transport quality and placed among the top ten in five other aviation indicators. Such findings indicate that the nation has effective plans and policies to bolster and develop its aviation industry.
Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism and Chairman of the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), praised the achievement, noting that it reinforces the UAE’s reputation on the global aviation map. He said the growth of the sector plays a vital role in boosting the economy by supporting trade, tourism, and overall competitiveness.
He also added that the UAE is applying new technology that is concerned with sustainability, high standards of safety, and service. Developing an efficient and effective aviation system and contributing to the long-term economic prospects of the country are some of the things that are being done.
The developments in the last decade indicate how committed the UAE is to achieving the status of a leading aviation center. As it invests and innovates more, the sector will keep on increasing tourism, trade, and the general economic growth.
