Passenger traffic at UAE airports increased by 14.2 per cent in the first half of 2024, with over 71.75 million passengers handled, up from 62.79 million in the same period last year.
Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, Director-General of the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), attributed this substantial growth in the aviation sector to the long-term vision and prudent leadership of the UAE.
This growth is supported by ongoing investment in infrastructure development, regulatory improvements, and advancements in digital transformation within civil aviation.
UAE airport traffic
Al Suwaidi highlighted that the strong performance and global reputation of UAE national carriers are evident in these growth figures.
He stated: “We are optimistic about the future, and the country is taking planned steps to further expand and grow in this vital sector. We are committed to ensuring the highest standards of safety and security, adopting new technologies to enhance the passenger experience, and establishing the country as a key hub for air transport in the region and a major player in the global aviation network.”
Al Suwaidi also mentioned that the GCAA is collaborating with federal and local partners, as well as national carriers, to explore and develop cooperative relationships in air transport with existing markets, as well as to identify opportunities for entering new ones.
He stressed that the GCAA has successfully signed air transport agreements with over 90 per cent of the world’s countries and remains committed to advancing development and expansion plans to enhance the UAE’s civil aviation sector’s global competitiveness.
The number of arrivals at UAE airports during the first half of the year was 20,274,694 passengers, with departures totalling 21,090,750 passengers, and 30,391,978 transit passengers.
Air cargo traffic in the first half of the year reached 2,162,786 tonnes, comprising 528,430 tonnes of imports, 245,217 tonnes of exports, and 1,389,136 tonnes of transit cargo.
National carriers accounted for 68 per cent of the total air cargo traffic.
In terms of overall air traffic, the total movements for the first half of the year reached 499,789, reflecting an overall growth rate of 11.8 per cent compared to the same period last year.
February saw the highest increase in air traffic movements, with a 15 per cent growth rate compared to the same month last year.
