Aviation in numbers: How UAE runs one of the world’s most connected networks

Airports, infrastructure

• 12 certified airports, including 8 international hubs

• 100 heliports, with several being upgraded for electric vertical aircraft

• 304 international airport connections in 109 countries

• 162 new international routes launched in the past five years

• Total passenger handling capacity exceeds 160 million annually

Air traffic, passenger growth

• Over one million air traffic movements recorded in 2024

• Average of 857 outbound international flights daily

• Passenger traffic increased 33.6% over the past decade

• Dubai International Airport (DXB) remains the world’s busiest for international passengers, with 5.34 million outbound seats in August 2025 (10.68 million both directions)

Airlines, fleet

• 35 UAE-registered air operators, including 5 national carriers

• 383 foreign operators registered in the UAE

• 960 aircraft registered, including 520 operated by national carriers flying 4,800 weekly flights

Connectivity, global reach

• 189 bilateral air transport agreements covering 97% of the world’s countries

• International air connectivity index increased 39% regionally and 15% globally between 2014 and 2024

• UAE accounts for 2.3% of global international passenger traffic and 32.2% of regional traffic

Economic impact

• Aviation contributes over USD 92 billion annually to the UAE economy (~18% of GDP)

• Direct employment in airlines, airports, air navigation services, and aerospace manufacturing: 206,800 jobs

• Total industry footprint across supply chains and tourism: ~991,500 jobs

• UAE air cargo market moved 4.36 million tonnes in the past year, ranking seventh globally

Affordability, access

• Real airfares dropped 35% between 2011 and 2023

• In 2023, 3,668 flights operated per 1,000 people