Abu Dhabi Airports has achieved double-digit passenger growth for the eighteenth consecutive quarter, emphasising its status as a significant engine of economic expansion and global connectivity.
From 1 July to 30 September 2025, the airports received 8.49 million passengers, representing a 10.1 per cent rise over the same period in 2024. Zayed International Airport, the emirate’s principal gateway, recorded 8.35 million travellers, up 10.4 per cent on the previous year.
Aircraft movements across the five airports grew by 6 per cent, reaching 67,035, while Abu Dhabi International (AUH) logged 49,073 aircraft movements, a 5.9 per cent year-on-year increase.
During the third quarter, Abu Dhabi Airports broadened its network by bringing in three new airlines: China Eastern Airlines’ daily link to Shanghai, Air Seychelles’ six-weekly flights, and Ethiopian Airlines’ daily service to Addis Ababa.
Twelve additional destinations were launched, with IndiGo introducing routes to Madurai, Bhubaneswar and Vishakhapatnam. Jazeera Airways also reinstated services linking AUH and Al Ain International Airport to Kuwait.
Cargo operations sustained momentum, with over 200,000 tonnes processed between July and September — a 15.5 per cent increase from the same period the previous year. To date, cargo volumes have reached 545,511 tonnes, underscoring Abu Dhabi’s growing footprint in international trade.
Elena Sorlini, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Abu Dhabi Airports, remarked: “This third quarter has bolstered our confidence in our operations. Recording double-digit growth for the 18th successive quarter is a milestone achievement globally. Yet it is the continuous surpassing of our operational targets, the reinforcement of our resilience through strategic partnerships and the collective endeavour of the entire Abu Dhabi Airports team that make this feat particularly noteworthy. The aviation experience we deliver is drawing ever-more visitors and investors through our terminals each quarter. As a central facilitator of Abu Dhabi’s tourism and trade ambitions, our airports are more strongly positioned than ever to support the emirate’s rapid progression.”
In addition, the quarter witnessed Zayed International Airport being awarded Best Airport for Retail at the 2025 Frontier Awards, and AUH obtaining the ACI Level 2 Accessibility Accreditation along with Level 3 Customer Experience Accreditation.
