ABU DHABI, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- The United Arab Emirates (UAE) recorded strong growth in its aviation sector in 2025, reinforcing its position as a leading regional hub for air transport and tourism, according to figures released Friday by the Emirates News Agency (WAM).

This photo taken on August 31, 2024 shows a view of Dubai, the United Arab Emirates. (Photo: Xinhua)

At Dubai International Airport, passenger traffic rose 3.1 percent year on year to a record 95.2 million, marking the busiest year in the airport's history.

Flight movements increased 3.3 percent to 454,800, and the airport is now connected to 291 destinations across the world, served by 108 international airlines, said WAM.

In the capital, Zayed International Airport helped drive total passenger traffic at Abu Dhabi airports to more than 33 million in 2025, the highest annual figure on record. The airport handled 8.59 million passengers in the fourth quarter alone, up 13.8 percent year on year, while cargo volumes across the emirate's airports reached nearly 770,000 tonnes.

During the year, airports across the country received multiple international recognitions for safety, operational excellence and sustainability, underscoring the UAE's growing influence in global aviation and tourism, according to the report.