The UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has unveiled a new series of analytical reports titled A Closer Look: Civil Aviation in the UAE, offering data-driven insights into the nation’s aviation journey, challenges, and future opportunities.
The initiative underscores the UAE’s strategic vision to strengthen its role as a global aviation hub, backed by decades of investment in infrastructure, technology, and connectivity.
Over just five decades, the UAE’s air transport sector underwent a remarkable transformation into a fully integrated global aviation system, featuring a sophisticated network of infrastructure across all Emirates, including:
- 12 certified airports, including 8 international airports.
- 100 heliports (some currently being developed into hybrid pads capable of accommodating electric vertical aircraft alongside traditional helicopters).
- 35 UAE registered air operators, including 5 national carriers.
- 383 foreign operators registered in the UAE.
- 189 bilateral air transport agreements signed with 97% of the world’s countries.
- An extensive international connectivity network linking UAE airports with 304 airports in 109 countries.
- 162 new international routes launched in the past five years alone.
- Between 2014 and 2024, the UAE’s international air connectivity index increased by 39% regionally and 15% globally.
- High operational capacity, with an average of 857 outbound international flights daily.
- A registered fleet of 960 aircraft in the country, including 520 aircraft operated by national carriers, which operate over 4,800 weekly flights worldwide.
- DXB has been the world’s busiest airport for international passengers for over a decade and continues to retain its global lead in scheduled international seat capacity, recording 5.34 million outbound seats in August 2025 (10.68 million in both directions), according to OAG’s monthly report.
- Over the past decade, passenger traffic through UAE airports grew cumulatively by 33.6%.
- The total current passenger handling capacity of the UAE’s airports exceeds 160 million passengers annually.
Today, UAE airports connect to 304 destinations in 109 countries, with Dubai International Airport maintaining its position as the world’s busiest hub for international passengers. In 2024 alone, the nation recorded over one million air traffic movements, while passenger handling capacity across airports now exceeds 160 million annually.
According to IATA, aviation contributes more than USD 92 billion to the UAE economy, representing around 18% of GDP, and directly supports over 206,000 jobs. The sector’s wider impact extends to nearly one million jobs across tourism, logistics, and supply chains. Cargo operations also remain a key strength, with the UAE ranked seventh globally for air freight volumes.
Beyond economic impact, the sector plays a vital role in advancing social development, international trade, and cultural exchange. With ongoing investments in advanced air mobility and sustainable aviation, the UAE continues to set global benchmarks in shaping the future of air travel.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
