The UAE air freight market size reached USD 1.60 Billion in 2024. The market is projected to reach USD 2.42 Billion by 2033, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of 4.23% during 2025-2033. The market is driven by the UAE’s strategic location as a global transit hub connecting Asia, Europe, and Africa, facilitating efficient cargo movement. Along with this, growth in e-commerce and demand for time-sensitive shipments have led to expanded capacity and infrastructure investments at major airports like Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Additionally, government initiatives supporting trade and logistics, including free zones and customs modernization, attract international freight operators, further augmenting UAE air freight market share.
Report Attribute
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Key Statistics
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Base Year
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2024
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Forecast Years
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2025-2033
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Historical Years
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2019-2024
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Market Size in 2024 | USD 1.60 Billion |
Market Forecast in 2033 | USD 2.42 Billion |
Market Growth Rate 2025-2033 | 4.23% |
Expansion of E-Commerce and Demand for Express Logistics
E-commerce growth in the UAE has created a sustained increase in air freight volumes, particularly for time-sensitive goods. According to industry reports, the e-commerce market in UAE reached USD 125.0 Billion in 2024. The market is expected to reach USD 776.2 Billion by 2033, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of 21.4% during 2025-2033. With consumers expecting shorter delivery timelines and international brands scaling direct-to-consumer operations, express logistics has become essential. Dubai and Abu Dhabi airports have responded by expanding dedicated cargo facilities, investing in automation, and optimizing customs processes to speed up last-mile operations. Major carriers are increasingly focusing on e-commerce-specific services, offering tailored solutions that integrate warehousing, customs clearance, and express delivery. Cross-border purchases, especially from China, Europe, and the United States, have surged, further reinforcing air freight’s role in supporting omnichannel retail. Additionally, third-party logistics providers have expanded their UAE presence, leveraging the country’s air network to serve both GCC and East African markets. The combination of robust payment systems, smartphone penetration, and regulatory clarity in digital trade contributes to the continued expansion of e-commerce air cargo, especially in electronics, fashion, health products, and luxury goods.
Strategic Investments in Airport Infrastructure and Cargo Capacity
The UAE government and private stakeholders have continued to allocate significant resources toward expanding air cargo infrastructure. This is positively impacting the UAE air freight market growth. Dubai World Central (DWC) and Abu Dhabi Airport’s Midfield Cargo Complex are central to this strategy. Notably, in April 2024, the Dubai Government announced the commencement of Phase Two of Dubai World Central’s (DWC) expansion. The plan outlines the development of what is set to become the world’s highest-capacity airport. Over the next ten years, DWC will be equipped with five runways and the infrastructure to handle 150 million passengers annually, with long-term capacity expected to reach 260 million passengers and 12 million tonnes of cargo each year. In parallel, Emirates and Etihad have invested in expanding their freighter fleets and building larger temperature-controlled facilities to meet pharmaceutical and food shipment requirements. These upgrades are accompanied by improved ground handling systems and customs modernization, enabling faster clearance and higher efficiency. The development of integrated logistics zones around airport perimeters, particularly in Jebel Ali and Khalifa Industrial Zone, has also improved multimodal connectivity, linking air freight with sea and land transport. These zones attract global freight players seeking to base regional operations in the UAE. The focus on scalability and resilience ensures that the country remains prepared for peak demand cycles, such as during pandemics or major global supply chain disruptions.
IMARC Group provides an analysis of the key trends in each segment of the market, along with forecasts at the country and regional levels for 2025-2033. Our report has categorized the market based on service, destination, and end user.
Service Insights:
The report has provided a detailed breakup and analysis of the market based on the service. This includes freight, express, mail, and others.
Destination Insights:
A detailed breakup and analysis of the market based on the destination have also been provided in the report. This includes domestic and international.
End User Insights:
The report has provided a detailed breakup and analysis of the market based on the end user. This includes private and commercial.
Regional Insights:
The report has also provided a comprehensive analysis of all the major regional markets, which include Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and others.
The market research report has also provided a comprehensive analysis of the competitive landscape. Competitive analysis such as market structure, key player positioning, top winning strategies, competitive dashboard, and company evaluation quadrant has been covered in the report. Also, detailed profiles of all major companies have been provided.
Report Features | Details |
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Base Year of the Analysis | 2024 |
Historical Period | 2019-2024 |
Forecast Period | 2025-2033 |
Units | Billion USD |
Scope of the Report |
Exploration of Historical Trends and Market Outlook, Industry Catalysts and Challenges, Segment-Wise Historical and Future Market Assessment:
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Services Covered | Freight, Express, Mail, Others |
Destinations Covered | Domestic, International |
End Users Covered | Private, Commercial |
Regions Covered | Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Others |
Customization Scope | 10% Free Customization |
Post-Sale Analyst Support | 10-12 Weeks |
Delivery Format | PDF and Excel through Email (We can also provide the editable version of the report in PPT/Word format on special request) |
Key Questions Answered in This Report:
Key Benefits for Stakeholders: