Zayed International Airport, also known as Abu Dhabi International Airport, recorded more than 93,000 passengers per day during the five-day period from June 26 to June 30, with both daily traffic and flight movements surpassing figures from the same period last year, according to a statement from Abu Dhabi Airports.

The airport operator said around 500 flights a day connected passengers to over 100 destinations worldwide, with new routes scheduled to launch in the coming months, according to the report by Huda Ata, special to Gulf News.

Abu Dhabi Airports attributed the sustained growth to strong travel demand, expanded airline capacity, an ever-widening destination network, and the airport's modern infrastructure and smart technology systems that have improved operational efficiency.

Record-Breaking 2025

The latest figures build on a record-setting 2025, during which Abu Dhabi Airports handled more than 33 million passengers across its network, Gulf News said. Zayed International Airport alone accounted for 32.5 million of those travelers—98 percent of the group's total traffic.

The airport has now posted more than 10 percent passenger growth for 19 straight quarters, marking nearly five years of continuous expansion. On several occasions in 2025, daily passenger numbers exceeded 100,000, while the fourth quarter alone saw 8.59 million passengers, a 13.8 percent year-on-year increase.

The airport also broadened its international footprint last year, adding 39 new routes and welcoming seven new carriers, including China Eastern Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, and Eurowings. Cargo volumes across Abu Dhabi's five airports climbed 12 percent to nearly 770,000 tonnes, the report noted.

Terminal A Driving Growth

Much of the expansion has come from Terminal A, which opened in November 2023 with an annual capacity of 45 million passengers. Spanning 742,000 square metres, the terminal can accommodate 79 aircraft at once and process 11,000 passengers per hour.

Abu Dhabi Airports said the terminal is the world's first to integrate all nine biometric passenger touchpoints and features a baggage system capable of handling 19,200 bags an hour. It also houses 35,000 square metres of retail and dining space across 163 outlets.

International Recognition

Zayed International Airport has picked up several global accolades in recent years, including being named the world's best airport for arrivals experience for a third straight year by Airports Council International, the world's most beautiful airport at the 2024 Prix Versailles awards, and the best airport shopping experience at the Frontier Awards 2025.

Source: Gulf News