Dubai Airports handled 6 million passengers during weeks of regional airspace disruption at Dubai International Airport.
Dubai Airports has been recognised as a winner of the 2026 Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award, making it the only airport operator to feature on this year’s global list.
The recognition comes after a challenging period for Dubai’s aviation sector, during which Dubai Airports managed around 6 million passengers across Dubai International Airport and Al Maktoum International Airport between late February and April 30, amid widespread regional airspace disruptions.
Despite these challenges, Dubai Airports was recognised by Gallup for strong employee engagement and workplace development, reflecting its organisational resilience during a demanding operational period.
Dubai Airports reported an employee engagement score of 74%, up from 71% in 2025, placing it in the 77th percentile globally.
According to Gallup, the recognition is awarded to organisations that demonstrate strong workplace engagement and employee development standards. The benchmarking process draws on data from more than 27 million respondents across over 200 countries.
Dubai Airports said it has received the Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award for the second consecutive year.
Meshari Al Bannai said the recognition reflects how leadership, talent development, and employee empowerment directly influence operational performance and passenger experience. He added that engagement is embedded in daily operations, from developing future and national talent to fostering a culture where accountability, service, and innovation work together.
Dubai Airports said it is expanding the use of artificial intelligence tools within its employee learning and development programmes, in line with the future growth plans for Al Maktoum International Airport (Dubai World Central).
The company noted that AI is being integrated into staff learning platforms, simulation-based training, and airport operational exercises to enhance workforce readiness and efficiency.
It also highlighted ongoing talent initiatives such as “Future Faces” and “Rising Stars,” which continue to focus on developing Emirati talent as part of its expanding workforce pipeline.
During a challenging operational period, Dubai Airports supported more than 32,000 aircraft movements and handled 213,000 tonnes of cargo, as airlines across the region adjusted schedules and rerouted flights due to airspace restrictions.
Operations at Dubai International Airport continued at reduced capacity through revised flight schedules and routing adjustments based on available airspace.
The disruptions were also reflected in traffic figures, with Dubai International handling 18.6 million passengers in Q1 2026, down 20.6% year-on-year. March recorded the steepest decline, as passenger numbers fell 65.7% to 2.5 million amid intensified regional airspace constraints.
