UAE to expand air connectivity with global markets after welcoming 75.4 million passengers

Dubai: Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Chairman of the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), said the UAE will continue working to expand the country’s air connectivity with global markets.

“This will be supported by a flexible and advanced regulatory framework, ambitious open skies policies, and ongoing infrastructure development plans,” said the Minister in a statement after the GCAA announced that UAE airports welcomed 75.4 million passengers during the first half of 2025 – a solid 5 per cent jump from the same period last year.

Al Marri added, “This (UAE’s regulatory framework for aviation) has significantly strengthened the country’s competitiveness and leadership in this vital sector, which today represents a key pillar for driving economic growth, diversifying income sources, and supporting trade, tourism, investment, and job creation," he said.

According to the GCAA’s performance indicators for the first half of the year, passenger numbers rose from 71.7 million in H1 2024. The data also showed strong growth across the sector, with air traffic movements increasing by 6.2 per cent to 531,000, and air cargo volumes exceeding 2.2 million tonnes, a 4.74 per cent rise.

The busiest month was January, a time when many of us were either returning from the holidays or embarking on new travel plans for the year.

Air traffic movements saw a 6.2 per cent increase, with over half a million flights crisscrossing the nation’s airspace. Similarly, air cargo volumes increased to over 2.2 million tonnes, a 4.74 per cent rise.

The GCAA also reported that national carriers added 15 new destinations across Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, further expanding the country’s global connectivity.

The new cities include destinations in Russia, the Czech Republic, Poland, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Vietnam, Cambodia, Turkey, Iran, Egypt, Croatia, and Ethiopia — further cementing the UAE’s status as a leading global aviation hub. The busiest flight routes to and from the UAE were Riyadh, Jeddah, Kuwait, Mumbai, and Bahrain.

The total passenger capacity of the country’s airports now exceeds 160 million, with plans for continued development to support this growth.

Meanwhile, Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, Director General of the GCAA, said, “These positive indicators highlight the strength of our aviation infrastructure and the effectiveness of integrated efforts by all our partners — including airports, airlines, and air navigation service providers.”