February 23, 2026
Methodology About Newsletter
WE THE UAE 2031
The Vanderbilt Terminal for the UAE's National Transformation
INDEPENDENT GLOBAL INTELLIGENCE FOR THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
UAE GDP: AED 2.03T ▲ 5.7% | Non-Oil GDP Share: 84.3% ▼ -5.2pp | FDI Inflows: $45.6B ▲ 48.7% | GDP Growth: 4.0% ▲ -0.3pp vs 2023 | Inflation: 1.7% ▼ +0.0pp vs 2023 | Female Participation: 55.1% ▲ +0.6pp vs 2023 | Population: 11.0M ▲ 4.8% | Emiratisation Rate: 12.5% ▲ 2.1pp | Global Competitiveness: #7 ▲ 3 places | Clean Energy Capacity: 7.2 GW ▲ 18.4% | ADX Index: 9,842 ▲ 4.7% | DFM Index: 4,621 ▲ 6.2% | UAE GDP: AED 2.03T ▲ 5.7% | Non-Oil GDP Share: 84.3% ▼ -5.2pp | FDI Inflows: $45.6B ▲ 48.7% | GDP Growth: 4.0% ▲ -0.3pp vs 2023 | Inflation: 1.7% ▼ +0.0pp vs 2023 | Female Participation: 55.1% ▲ +0.6pp vs 2023 | Population: 11.0M ▲ 4.8% | Emiratisation Rate: 12.5% ▲ 2.1pp | Global Competitiveness: #7 ▲ 3 places | Clean Energy Capacity: 7.2 GW ▲ 18.4% | ADX Index: 9,842 ▲ 4.7% | DFM Index: 4,621 ▲ 6.2% |

Definition

Zayed International Airport (IATA: AUH), formerly known as Abu Dhabi International Airport, is the capital emirate’s primary commercial airport, located approximately 30 kilometers from central Abu Dhabi. Renamed in 2023 in honor of the UAE’s founding father Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the airport features the new Terminal A (Midfield Terminal), which opened in November 2023 with a design capacity of 45 million passengers annually. The airport serves as the main hub for Etihad Airways and connects to over 100 destinations globally.

UAE Context

Zayed International Airport is central to Abu Dhabi’s strategy of establishing itself as a premium tourism, business, and transit destination distinct from Dubai’s mass-volume approach. The new Terminal A represents an investment of approximately AED 11 billion and is designed to deliver a luxury passenger experience consistent with Abu Dhabi’s brand positioning. The airport also plays a vital logistics role, with dedicated cargo facilities supporting Khalifa Port and KIZAD in the broader Abu Dhabi supply chain ecosystem. The renaming to Zayed International Airport was a symbolic act reinforcing national identity and the legacy of the UAE’s founding leadership.

Key Data

  • IATA code: AUH
  • Location: 30 km from Abu Dhabi city center
  • Terminal A capacity: 45 million passengers annually
  • Terminal A investment: Approximately AED 11 billion
  • Terminal A opened: November 2023
  • Primary carrier: Etihad Airways
  • Connected destinations: Over 100 globally
  • Key feature: 65 aircraft contact gates, automated baggage system handling 19,200 bags per hour

Significance for Vision 2031

Zayed International Airport anchors Abu Dhabi’s tourism and connectivity ambitions under Vision 2031. The new Terminal A’s capacity enables the emirate to scale its visitor economy while maintaining the premium service standards associated with the Abu Dhabi brand. The airport’s cargo facilities complement Khalifa Port and KIZAD, supporting Abu Dhabi’s parallel objective of growing as a trade and industrial hub alongside its cultural and tourism investments on Saadiyat Island and Yas Island.

  • Abu Dhabi - The capital emirate served by Zayed International Airport
  • Khalifa Port - Abu Dhabi’s deep-water port integrated with the logistics ecosystem
  • KIZAD - Industrial zone linked to Abu Dhabi’s trade infrastructure
  • Saadiyat Island - Cultural district boosting Abu Dhabi’s tourism demand