Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi has been crowned the "World's Most Beautiful Airport" at the prestigious Prix Versailles International Architecture Awards, held at UNESCO's headquarters in Paris. This recognition marks a significant milestone for the airport, which has surpassed over 400 global competitors to secure this honor.

The award coincides with the airport's first anniversary and the UAE's 53rd Eid Al Etihad celebrations, underscoring its rapid rise as a leading aviation hub.

The airport's design, crafted by renowned architect Kohn Pedersen Fox, is a testament to the UAE's vision for the future of aviation, blending modernity with cultural heritage. Inspired by Abu Dhabi's desert landscape, its striking undulating roof adds aesthetic appeal and serves as a sustainable feature by providing natural shading to reduce energy consumption.

The terminal's X-shaped structure maximizes floor space while incorporating eco-friendly materials, further enhancing its environmental credentials. Each of the four piers within the terminal is themed around Abu Dhabi's natural elements—sea, desert, city, and oasis—celebrating the region's rich cultural heritage through intricate Islamic geometrical patterns and traditional handicrafts.

One of the airport's standout features is the breathtaking Sana Al Nour, a 22-meter glass-fronted installation inspired by Islamic architecture. Suspended between arrivals and departures, this artwork filters natural light to the lower levels and enhances airflow, embodying the fusion of art and engineering.

The airport's capacity to accommodate up to 45 million passengers annually, with potential expansion to 80 million, positions it as a critical global air travel hub.

Zayed International Airport's achievement is also notable for its cultural significance, as it is named after Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founder of the UAE. The airport's success reflects Abu Dhabi's ambitious vision for air travel, combining technological advancement with cultural sensitivity to create a space that honors local heritage while meeting international travelers' needs.

Additionally, the airport has achieved impressive passenger traffic numbers, serving over 21 million passengers as of September 2024. It boasts a high ACI ASQ satisfaction score, ranking it among the best airports globally.

Dubai International Airport (DXB) is gearing up for an extraordinary influx of travelers during the Eid al-Fitr holiday, with over 3.6 million guests expected to pass through its terminals from March 26 to April 7. The busiest day of this period is forecast to be Saturday, April 5, when a staggering 309,000 travelers are anticipated. On average, daily traffic will reach approximately 276,000 guests, with the first week of April seeing the sharpest increase.

This surge is driven by strong demand for travel to key destinations such as India, Pakistan, and the United Kingdom, as well as a notable rise in leisure travel to places like Sri Lanka, Türkiye, and Italy. The Eid holiday coincides with the spring break for schools, further boosting travel demand.

To ensure a seamless experience for travelers during this peak period, Dubai Airports has introduced several innovative measures. The recently launched DXB Express Maps, a smart wayfinding tool, provides real-time navigation across all terminals. By scanning a QR code on flight information screens, passengers can easily locate their gates, explore dining and retail options, and find nearby facilities.

Additionally, the airport has enhanced services for People of Determination, including clearly marked accessibility routes, discreet support for guests wearing Sunflower Lanyards, and a dedicated Assisted Travel Lounge in Terminal 2. Dubai Airports is working closely with airlines, service providers, and government authorities to streamline passenger flows and deliver a hassle-free experience throughout the holiday period.

In preparation for the increased traffic, Dubai Airports has also implemented a range of operational enhancements. These include extended operating hours for check-in and baggage drop-off counters, as well as increased staffing levels at security checkpoints to minimize wait times. Furthermore, passengers are encouraged to take advantage of online check-in and baggage drop-off services to expedite their journey.

The airport's Smart Gates, which utilize facial recognition technology, are also being optimized to reduce processing times for departing passengers. To enhance the overall travel experience, DXB is offering a variety of entertainment and dining options, including live performances and special promotions at its restaurants and shops.

Travelers are advised to plan ahead and arrive at the airport with ample time to spare. Dubai Airports recommends that passengers arrive at least three hours before their scheduled flight time for international travel and two hours for domestic flights. This will allow sufficient time for check-in, baggage drop-off, security screening, and immigration processing.

Additionally, passengers can stay updated on flight schedules and airport operations through the Dubai Airports app or social media channels. With these preparations in place, Dubai International Airport is poised to deliver a memorable and efficient travel experience for all visitors during the Eid holiday peak.

Doha’s Hamad International Airport (HIA) has reached a significant milestone in its expansion journey with the inauguration of state-of-the-art Concourses D and E on March 19. This development increases the airport’s total floor space to 845,000 square meters across its five concourses (A, B, C, D, and E), marking a 14% growth compared to pre-expansion levels.

The new concourses, spanning 102,000 square meters collectively, introduce 17 additional contact gates, bringing the total number of contact gates to 62—a 40% increase. This expansion boosts HIA’s annual passenger capacity to 65 million, further solidifying its position as a global aviation hub.

The enhanced gate capacity and optimized flight operations are set to significantly improve connectivity for both passengers and airlines. According to HIA officials, the expansion will eliminate approximately 350,000 bus transfers annually, streamlining the movement of passengers between aircraft and the terminal.

These upgrades ensure greater connectivity, streamlined operations, and a significant reduction in bus transfers, stated HIA.

In addition to operational improvements, the new concourses feature cutting-edge self-boarding systems, leveraging smart technology to expedite document verification and reduce wait times. This innovation promises a faster, more efficient boarding process, enhancing the overall travel experience. 

The expansion also introduces 2,700 square meters of new retail space, including nine retail and food and beverage outlets, offering passengers a diverse range of shopping and dining options.

Hamad Ali al-Khater, Chief Operating Officer at HIA, highlighted the airport’s growing passenger numbers, noting that HIA served nearly 53 million passengers in 2024. The completion of Concourses D and E marks the final phase of an ambitious expansion project that began in 2018. 

This transformative journey included the unveiling of the ‘ORCHARD’ in 2022, a 6,000-square-meter indoor tropical garden that redefines the passenger experience with its serene ambiance.

The expansion also features an enhanced Central Concourse, designed to improve passenger flow and operational efficiency, alongside a revamped retail and dining portfolio showcasing global luxury brands and diverse culinary offerings. 

With these advancements, HIA continues to elevate traveler comfort and reinforce Doha’s status as a key global aviation hub, catering to the growing demands of international carriers and passengers alike.

Dubai Airports, the world’s busiest international airport operator, has been awarded the 2025 Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award (GEWA), a prestigious recognition for its outstanding commitment to employee engagement.

This accolade places Dubai Airports among an elite group of organizations globally that prioritize creating a thriving workplace culture where employees feel valued, empowered, and inspired to excel.

Achieving the 75th percentile in employee engagement, Dubai Airports has set itself apart as a benchmark for workplace excellence, a feat accomplished by only a small fraction of organizations worldwide.

The award underscores Dubai Airports' innovative strategies to adapt to a rapidly evolving work environment. Meshari Al Bannai, Chief People Officer at Dubai Airports, highlighted the organization's focus on wellbeing, growth, and collaboration as key drivers of its dynamic workplace culture.

“Engaged people drive success," he stated, emphasizing how the company empowers its teams to contribute meaningfully to the future of aviation.

Gallup's research, which informed the award process, is one of the most comprehensive workplace studies ever conducted, involving over 3.3 million employees across 347 organizations in 90 countries.

The findings reveal that highly engaged workplaces outperform in critical areas such as productivity, profitability, customer experience, and employee retention. 

Jon Clifton, Gallup’s CEO, praised this year’s winners for setting new standards in workplace engagement and demonstrating how exceptional workplaces drive tangible business results.

This recognition comes as Dubai Airports continues to lead in global aviation. In 2024, its flagship airport, Dubai International (DXB), welcomed a record 92.3 million passengers and maintained its position as the world’s top airport for international passenger traffic.

With ongoing expansion plans and a focus on innovation and sustainability, Dubai Airports is not only shaping the future of aviation but also redefining what it means to create an exceptional workplace.

Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi has been crowned the "World's Most Beautiful Airport" at the prestigious Prix Versailles International Architecture Awards, held at UNESCO's headquarters in Paris. This recognition marks a significant milestone for the airport, which has surpassed over 400 global competitors to secure this honor.

The award coincides with the airport's first anniversary and the UAE's 53rd Eid Al Etihad celebrations, underscoring its rapid rise as a leading aviation hub.

The airport's design, crafted by renowned architect Kohn Pedersen Fox, is a testament to the UAE's vision for the future of aviation, blending modernity with cultural heritage. Inspired by Abu Dhabi's desert landscape, its striking undulating roof adds aesthetic appeal and serves as a sustainable feature by providing natural shading to reduce energy consumption.

The terminal's X-shaped structure maximizes floor space while incorporating eco-friendly materials, further enhancing its environmental credentials. Each of the four piers within the terminal is themed around Abu Dhabi's natural elements—sea, desert, city, and oasis—celebrating the region's rich cultural heritage through intricate Islamic geometrical patterns and traditional handicrafts.

One of the airport's standout features is the breathtaking Sana Al Nour, a 22-meter glass-fronted installation inspired by Islamic architecture. Suspended between arrivals and departures, this artwork filters natural light to the lower levels and enhances airflow, embodying the fusion of art and engineering.

The airport's capacity to accommodate up to 45 million passengers annually, with potential expansion to 80 million, positions it as a critical global air travel hub.

Zayed International Airport's achievement is also notable for its cultural significance, as it is named after Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founder of the UAE. The airport's success reflects Abu Dhabi's ambitious vision for air travel, combining technological advancement with cultural sensitivity to create a space that honors local heritage while meeting international travelers' needs.

Additionally, the airport has achieved impressive passenger traffic numbers, serving over 21 million passengers as of September 2024. It boasts a high ACI ASQ satisfaction score, ranking it among the best airports globally.

In a glittering ceremony held at the iconic Burj Khalifa, Dubai Airports celebrated the unsung heroes who make Dubai International Airport (DXB) one of the world's premier travel hubs. The DXB Chairman's Awards recognized outstanding contributions from employees across various departments, shining a well-deserved spotlight on the people powering the airport's world-class passenger experience.

"Dubai International Airport's success is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our incredible team," said Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Airports. "These awards are our way of honoring the individuals who go above and beyond to ensure our passengers have a seamless and memorable journey through DXB."

Among the award recipients was Fatima Ali, a customer service agent who has been with the airport for over a decade. "I am humbled and honored to receive this award," said Ali. "Providing excellent service to our passengers is more than just a job - it's a passion that drives me every single day."

Also recognized was Amer Hussain, an airside operations supervisor credited with developing innovative solutions to enhance aircraft turnaround times. "Efficiency and safety are paramount in our line of work," Hussain explained. "I'm grateful to be part of a team that is constantly striving to push the boundaries of what's possible."

The ceremony also highlighted the contributions of unsung heroes in security, maintenance, and logistics - all of whom play a vital role in delivering Dubai's renowned hospitality to the over 90 million passengers who transit through DXB annually.

"Our people are the heart and soul of Dubai Airports," concluded Sheikh Ahmed. "These awards are a testament to their tireless efforts, and a reminder that world-class facilities are nothing without the dedicated individuals who bring them to life."