Recent statistics released by the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Center have revealed remarkable growth in the aviation sector of the UAE, with total passenger traffic through the nation’s airports surpassing one billion from 2015 to 2024 and over 6.4 million aircraft movements recorded.
The report showed that the UAE ranked first globally in air transport quality and achieved positions among the top ten worldwide in five different indicators. This reflects the visionary approach of the leadership aimed at bolstering the growth of this vital sector and enhancing its competitiveness both regionally and globally, as it serves as a fundamental pillar for supporting the growth and sustainability of the national economy.
His Excellency Abdullah Bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism and Chairman of the General Civil Aviation Authority, stated that the exceptional results achieved by the civil aviation sector over the past decade confirm the effectiveness of the national policies, strategies, and initiatives adopted by the UAE in accordance with the wise directives of its leadership, which not only look forward to the future but also shape its contours and achieve its milestones.
He pointed out that these results help solidify the UAE’s position on the global aviation and travel map, reflecting the essential contribution of this dynamic sector to the national economy’s growth and competitiveness. Additionally, they highlight the UAE’s leadership in presenting a unique model that sets a global standard for building a more efficient and sustainable aviation system, integrating technological innovations with the highest safety and service quality standards.
Innovative Projects
The minister further noted that national efforts continue toward developing infrastructure and innovative projects within the aviation sector and all related activities, while also working collaboratively with local and international partners to provide exceptional travel experiences that enhance the country’s appeal to passengers and air freight from around the globe. This includes diversifying air services and products, building national human capacities, promoting the entry of Emiratis into the sector, and increasing investments in alignment with the tenth principle of the UAE’s economic principles document, aimed at establishing the UAE as the best logistics infrastructure in the world and reinforcing its position as a major hub for global aviation and transportation.
A Nexus Point
Hanane Mansour Ahli, Director of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Center, affirmed that the achievements of the UAE in the aviation sector over the last decade reflect the advanced level the industry has reached and represent a reflection of the leadership’s vision in transforming the country into a global attraction and a hub connecting various continents and nations.
Ahli mentioned that the airports in the UAE welcomed over one billion passengers within a decade, achieving more than 6.4 million aircraft movements during the same period. The UAE’s advanced positions in different global competitiveness indicators related to the aviation sector epitomize decades of diligent and intensive efforts to monitor the evolution of this vital sector.
Global Competitiveness
The notable accomplishments in the air transport sector have reinforced the competitiveness of the UAE, placing it at the forefront regionally and globally in terms of the efficiency and quality of air transport services. The UAE has secured the first position globally in the air transport quality index according to the Global Competitiveness Report for 2025, released by the International Institute for Management Development. Additionally, it ranks third worldwide for the efficiency of air transport services and the number of seats available per kilometer per week in the Travel and Tourism Development Index 2024 report by the World Economic Forum, and eighth globally in the number of operating airlines, while also being positioned tenth globally in the number of air service agreements.
Passenger Traffic
Data from the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Center indicates that passenger traffic through the UAE’s airports rose from 114.8 million in 2015 to 147.8 million in 2024, reflecting a growth of 28.7%. The total passenger traffic—comprising arrivals, departures, and transit—saw over one billion from 2015 to 2024, while the number of incoming and outgoing flights exceeded 800,000 by the end of 2024, totaling more than 6.4 million movements over the past decade.
Statistics revealed a rise in passenger numbers, starting from 114.8 million in 2015, which increased to 124.3 million in 2016 with a growth rate of 8.2%. The figures grew to 126.5 million in 2017, marking a 1.8% increase, while in 2018, they surpassed 129 million with a growth rate of 2.0%. However, in 2019, passenger numbers decreased to 127.9 million during a global travel decline caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to the closure of major airports worldwide and a drastic plunge to 38.3 million passengers in 2020, down by 70%.
Regaining Momentum
In 2021, the sector began to gradually regain its growth momentum, with passenger numbers reaching 45.9 million, representing a 19.6% increase. In 2022, a remarkable growth of 120% was recorded, bringing the total to over 101 million passengers.
According to the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Center data, the sector continued its upward trajectory in 2023, achieving a growth rate of 31.2% to reach 132.5 million passengers, surpassing pre-pandemic levels and marking it as one of the fastest recovering air transport sectors globally. This was followed by a record-high of 147.8 million passengers in 2024, an increase of 11.5% compared to 2023.
The Largest Share
Statistics on passenger distribution across airports by emirate reveal that Dubai International Airport accounted for the largest share of passenger movements over the past decade, with around 782.2 million passengers. Abu Dhabi Airports followed with 200.5 million passengers, then Sharjah International Airport with 101.5 million, Ras Al Khaimah Airport with over 4 million, and Fujairah Airport with 118.1 thousand passengers, alongside 46.6 thousand passengers through other local airports.
The Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Center emphasized that the continuous growth in air transport in the UAE has not only been limited to passenger numbers. It has also included an increase in aircraft movements, which rose from 739.8 thousand movements in 2015 to 754.6 thousand in 2016, reflecting a 2% growth. During the COVID-19 pandemic, aircraft movements sharply declined to 331.5 thousand in 2020 before improving in 2021 with 428.1 thousand movements, and 614.3 thousand movements in 2022, ultimately returning to pre-pandemic levels in 2023 with 725.6 thousand movements, increasing further to over 800 thousand movements in 2024, a record unprecedented in the history of air traffic in the nation.