Dubai Airports Awards

2026

Best Airport in the World & Best Airport in the Middle East
Business Traveller Middle East Awards

Digitisation & AI Integration in Health & Safety and Accessible & Inclusive Travel for People of Determination
Ideas Arabia International Award – Dubai Quality Group

Top 77th percentile in Employee Engagement
Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award 

Distinction — Health and Safety team
British Safety Council’s International Safety Awards 

Silver — Learning Culture of the Year 2026  
LPI (Learning and Performance Institute) 

ISO 20000-1:2018 certification for IT service management
ISO - International Organization for Standardization

ISO 22301:2019 Business Continuity Management Certification
ISO - International Organization for Standardization

2025

Airport of the Year
Aviation Business Middle East Awards 2025 

Best Airport in the World
The 2025 Ultimate Luxury Travel Related Awards (ULTRAs)

Operational Efficiency category
GCAA UAE Aviation Safety Conference 2025

Emirates Energy Award 2025
DXB Terminal 2, Solar Energy Project (Distributed Generation) Large Scale > 500 kW category

Gold Tier Award, Best Use of Renewable Energy
International Sustainability Awards 2025

Top Airport (WBA Honoree)
Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards 2025

Airport Operator of the Year
Aviation Achievement Awards 2025

Innovate for Impact Award
AI for Good Summit 2025

Learning & Development Excellence
Brilliance Awards, London 2025

Safety Recognition Award
Level 4 "Transformation" Airport Carbon Accreditation
ACI Asia-Pacific & Middle East Regional Assembly

Best Airport in the Middle East
Business Traveller Middle East Awards 2025

Operational Excellence Award
AirportLabs Operational Excellence 2025 Awards at Passenger Terminal Expo

Baggage Innovation Leader
Siemens Logistics Partner Recognition 2025 Awards at Passenger Terminal Expo 

Top 75th percentile in Employee Engagement
Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award 

2024

Best Airport Dining
Forbes Travel Guide’s Inaugural Luxury Air Travel Awards

100 Most Inspiring Leaders 2024- CEO Paul Griffiths 
Arabian Business Inspiring Leaders List

Best Public Procurement Project of the Year
Conference & Excellence in Procurement Awards MENA (CIPS)  

Supply Management Highly Commended for Best Collaborative Teamwork Project
Conference & Excellence in Procurement Awards MENA (CIPS) 

Best Airport in the Middle East 
Business Traveller Middle East Awards 

Dubai Medal for Special Recognition – The Unknown Soldier (Aboobacker Mohammed Kani, Business Support & Budget Control) 
Dubai Government Excellence Award   

Best Entity in Providing Integrated Services  
Dubai Government Excellence Award   

Best Entity in Efficiency and Corporate Governance 
Dubai Government Excellence Award   

Businessperson of the Year for CEO Paul Griffiths 
Arabian Business Achievement Awards 

2023

Certified Autism Center™ (CAC) Designation for DXB
International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES)

World's Leading Airport
World Travel Awards

Gold Stevie® HR Team of the Year 
International Business Awards® (IBAs)

Bronze Stevie® Thought Leader of the Year
International Business Awards® (IBAs)

Top 5 Travel & Tourism Leaders 2023- CEO Paul Griffiths 
Forbes Middle East

Most Connected Airport in the Asia-Pacific and Middle East region (DXB
Airports Council International Asia-Pacific & Middle East 

Outstanding Contribution to the Airport Commercial Revenues Sector - CEO Paul Griffiths 
The Trinity Award 2023 

Accessibility Enhancement Accreditation (DXB)
Airports Council International World 

Best Airport Worldwide
Business Traveller Middle East Awards

Best Airport in Middle East
Business Traveller Middle East Awards    

Contact Centre of the Year
Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service    

Silver Award for Health and Safety Management System
Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA)    

Merit Status
International Safety Awards 2023     

Gold Winner, Best Customer Service
International Business Excellence Award (IBXA)    

Best Employer Brands
LinkedIn MENA Talent Awards

2022

Airport of the Year
Aviation Business Awards    

Best Aviation Sustainability Program (Environment pillar)
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Global Aviation Award    

Gold Stevie Award for Most Innovative Workplace Redesign During Covid-19
Stevie Awards for Great Employers    

Best Airport in the World
Business Traveller Middle East Awards    

Best Airport in Middle East
Business Traveller Middle East Awards

2021

Best Entity in Service Provision (Corporate Category)
Dubai Government Excellence Award    

Dubai Medal for Special Recognition – The Unknown Soldier (Ahmed Buti Sabt Saeed, Security Department)
Dubai Government Excellence Award    

Airport of the Year
Aviation Business Awards    

World's Leading Airport
World Travel Awards    

Best Airport in the World
Business Traveller ME Awards    

Best Airport in Middle East
Business Traveller ME Awards

2019

Airport of the Year
Aviation Business Awards 2019    

Tech Innovation of the Year for Realtime DXB
Aviation Business Awards 2019    

Airport F&B Offer of the Year
FAB Conference & Awards    

Best Airport Middle East
Business Traveller Awards 2019    

Outstanding Achievement Award
Conde Nast Traveller Middle East Readers’ Choice Awards

2018

Outstanding Contribution to Business for CEO Paul Griffiths 
CEO Middle East Awards 2018    

Best Airport for Retail Environment (As voted by Millennials)
Travel Retail Awards 2018    

Amin system - Improving Aviation Security
Aeronnovation Awards, GCAA    

Airport Community App - Improving Passenger Experience
Aeronnovation Awards, GCAA    

Best Airport in the Middle East
Business Traveller Middle East Awards    

Business Continuity Global Award
Business Continuity Awards 2018

2017

5 Stars Rating for DXB’s Terminal 3 and Al Majlis
Global Star Rating Programme for Service Centres    

Favourite Airport for Layover
Conde Nast Middle East    

Middle East’s Leading Airport
World Travel Awards 2017    

Airport of the Year for DXB
Aviation Business Awards    

Aviation Executive of the Year for CEO Paul Griffiths
Aviation Business Awards    

Aviation & Transport Company of the Year
Gulf Business Awards 2017    

Recovery of the Year
BCI Middle East Awards    

Industry Personality of the Year for Majed Al Joker, SVP Assurance & Control Authorities, Dubai Airports
BCI Middle East Awards    

Continuity & Resilience Professional of the Year for Marwan Ibrahim, Director, Corporate Resilience
BCI Middle East Awards    

F&B Offer of the Year (ME & India)
FAB Awards 2017    

Asia Pacific Airport of the Year in 2016
Centre for Aviation (CAPA) Global Airport Leaders’ Forum    

Best Service Center Director for Manager Moosa Miran, Head of Terminal 2, DXB
Dubai Government Excellence Programme Awards 2017    

Best Field Employee for Reem Al Saffar, Manager Airside Projects
Dubai Government Excellence Programme Awards 2017    

Best Airport in the Middle East
Business Traveller ME Awards    

Government CSR Initiative
International Award Association    

CSR Team of the Year
International Award Association    

Managing Wellness at Work
World Congress for HRD    

CSR Leader of the Year
World Congress for HRD

2016

Best Airport for Layovers (International & Region)
Conde Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards   

Airport Development of the Year for Concourse D
Aviation Business Awards   

Oracle Excellence Award for Cloud Innovation
Oracle’s OpenWorld   

Best Employer Brand on LinkedIn in the Public Sector
LinkedIn Talent Awards    

Business Leader of the Year for CEO Paul Griffiths
Gulf Business Awards   

Business Leader of the Year – Aviation for CEO Paul Griffiths
Gulf Business Awards   

Best Airport in the Middle East
Asian Freight, Logistics & Supply Chain Awards (AFLAS)   

Best Airport in the Middle East
Business Traveller ME Awards 2016   

Best YouTube Campaign for ‘Surprise Guest at DXB’
The Moodies 2015   

Level 2 
ACI’s Carbon Accreditation Programme for DXB & DWC

2015

Best Employee Learning
Service Olympian Awards   

Best Airport
Ultimate Luxury Travel Related Awards   

Favourite Airport for Layovers
Conde Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards Middle East   

Airport of the Year
Aviation Business Awards   

Initiative of the Year for Dubai Airports & Le Clos)
Frontier Awards 2015    

Best Airport (Middle East)
Asian Freight, Logistics & Supply Chain Awards (AFLAS)   

Gold Award for Best Internal Branding
Transform Awards MENA   

Overall Winner for Middle East & Africa
Routes Middle East & Africa Marketing Awards   

Winner for over 20 million passengers’ category
Routes Middle East & Africa Marketing Awards   

Middle East’s Leading Airport
World Travel Awards   

Best Airport in the Middle East
Business Traveller Middle East Awards   

Best Cargo Airport (under 1 million tonnes - DWC)
Air Cargo News   

Most Supportive Approach to Travel-Retail
DFNI Awards   

Airport of the Year
Air Transport News Awards

2014

Airport of the Year, Middle East & Subcontinent
Payload Asia Awards   

Editor’s Choice Award for Tourism Excellence
Conde Nast Middle East Awards   

The World’s Tallest Chocolate Structure (Burj Khalifa)
Guinness Book of World Records   

Airport of the Year
Aviation Business Awards   

Best Airport in Middle East
Sleeping in Airports Awards    

Best Airport in Middle East, Europe and Africa
Frequent Business Traveller Awards   

Middle East’s Best Airport
World Travel Awards   

Best Airport Middle East
Business Traveller Awards   

Airport of the Year
Air Transport News Awards

2013

Airport of the Year
Aviation Business Awards   

Best Airport Food & Beverage Offer of the Year
FAB Awards   

Employer of the Year
Middle East HR Excellence Awards    

Aviation CEO of the Year
Gulf Business Industry Awards    

Largest Indoor Illuminated Advertising Signage
Guinness Book of World Record   

Best Employee Engagement (Public Sector)
Annual GCC HR Excellence Awards   

HR Professional of the Year
Annual GCC HR Excellence Awards   

Best Airport Middle East
World Travel Awards    

Best Airport in the Middle East
Asian Freight & Supply Chain Awards   

Air Cargo Hub of the Year
Supply Chain & Air Transport Awards   

Best Airport in the Cargo- Middle East category
Air Cargo Excellence Awards   

Best Airport Middle East
Business Traveller Awards

2012

Silver Award (Corporate Category)
Air Transport News Awards   

Airport of the Year
Aviation Business Awards 2012   

Best use of Social Media Platform by an International Airport 
Social Media in Travel & Tourism Award (Smittys)    

Best Airport, Middle East
Business Traveller   

Employer of the Year
4th Annual GCC HR Excellence Award   

Best Airport (Cargo – Middle East)
Air Cargo Excellence Awards   

Best Airport in the Middle East
Airport Service Quality Awards (ACI)   

Most Improved Airport in the Middle East
Airport Service Quality Awards (ACI)

2011

Airport of the Year
Aviation Business Awards    

Employer of the Year
3rd Annual GCC HR Excellence Awards   

CEO of the Year
3rd Annual GCC HR Excellence Awards   

Air Cargo Hub of the Year
Supply Chain and Transport Awards   

Middle East’s Leading Airport
World Traveller Awards (ME)   

Best Airport Middle East
Business Traveller (ME)   

Best Airport (ME)
Asian Freight and Supply Chain Awards   

Best Airport (ME)
Skytrax World Airport Awards   

Best Airport (ME)
ACI’s ASQ Awards    

Most Improved Airport
ACI’s ASQ Awards 

2010

Best Customer Service
Best in Dubai 2010 (Ahlan!)   

Air Cargo Hub of the Year
Supply Chain and Transport Awards (SCATA)   

Middle East’s Leading Airport
World Traveller Awards (ME)   

Best Airport Middle East
Business Traveller Middle East Awards   

Best Airport - Middle East
Asian Freight and Supply Chain Awards   

Best Special Needs Transport Facilities
Dubai Award for Sustainable Transport  (Roads and Transport Authority)   

Best Worldwide Airport
Business Traveller Awards

2009

World’s Leading Airport
World Travel Awards (London)   

Middle East’s Leading Airport
World Travel Awards (Dubai)   

Best Airport Middle East
Business Traveller Awards   

Cargo Hub of the Year (3rd consecutive winner)
Supply Chain and Transport Award (SCATA)   

Best Airport (Cargo) (4th consecutive winner)
Middle East Logistics Award   

Middle East’s Best Airport (15th consecutive winner)
Asian Freight and Supply Chain (AFSC)

2008

The Single Largest Development in Aviation History in the Region
Newsweek (Arabic)   

Best Long-Haul Airport
Selling Long Haul Awards   

Best Airport Middle East
Business Traveller Awards (Germany)   

Best Airport for Duty Free Shopping
Business Traveller Awards (Germany)   

Best Team Award (Dubai Airports Team for Dubai Routes)
Dubai Government Excellence Programme    

Best Foreign Airport
Zvezda.Travel.ru Awards, Moscow               

UAE’s Top Developers Award
Construction World, Gulf Awards 2008   

Best Airport in the Middle East
Business Traveller Middle East Awards    

Best Airport in ME for Duty Free Shopping
Business Traveller Middle East Awards    

Air Cargo Hub of the Year
Supply Chain and Transport Awards 2008 (SCATA)   

Middle East’s Leading Airport
World Travel Awards 2008   

Airport of the Year
Aviation Business Awards 2008

2007

World’s Leading Airport & Middle East’s Leading Airport
World Travel Awards   

Best Airport Middle East
Business Traveller Awards, Germany   

Best Airport of the Year
Aviation Business Awards (ABA)  

2006

Outstanding Brand Name
Super Brands Award   

Best Airport Worldwide
Conde Nast Traveller Awards 

2005

Best Airport Middle East
Business Traveller Awards, Germany   

Best airport Worldwide
Selling Long Haul, UK   

Gold Award, Worldwide Airport
Buying Business Travel, UK   

World’s Leading Airport & Middle East’s Leading Airport
World Travel Awards   

Best Airport Middle East & Africa
ACI AETRA Award

2004

Best in the World
OAG (Official Airline Guide)   

Best Airport Worldwide, Best in the Region; Best in Size
IATA Global Airport Monitor   

Best Airport Middle East
Business Traveller Middle East Awards    

Best Airport Middle East
Business Traveller Awards, Germany   

World’s Favourite Airport
Conde Nast Traveller Readers' Choice Awards    

Airport Marketing Award
Routes Forum   

Best Airport for Overall Passenger Satisfaction
IATA Global Airport Monitor   

Best design/layout in the world; best Duty Free facility
Conde Nast Traveller Readers' Choice Awards  

2003

Best Airport Middle East
Business Traveller Awards, Germany    

Special Recognition for Customer Satisfaction
Government Excellence Awards    

Best Airport Middle East
Business Traveller Middle East Awards    

Best Airport for Overall Passenger Satisfaction
IATA Global Airport Monitor   

“Highly Commended” for Excellence in Airport Marketing
Routes Airport Marketing Awards   

Best International Airport Worldwide
Conde Nast Traveller Awards  

2002

Best International Airport Worldwide, Runners Up
Conde Nast Traveller Awards    

Best Airport Marketing Campaign
Routes Airport Marketing Awards     

Operational Excellence
Air BP Award    

Best Airport for Overall Passenger Satisfaction
IATA Global Airport Monitor    

Distinguished Government Department
Dubai Awards for Government Excellence    

Best Airport Middle East
Business Traveller Middle East Awards    

Airport Service Excellence Awards
Airport World and Insight Media  

2001

Best Airport Marketing Campaign
Routes Airport Marketing Awards    

Best International Airport Worldwide
Conde Nast Traveller Awards   

Outstanding Advertisement
Air Transport World Award    

Government Recognition for Customer Satisfaction
Government Excellence Award    

Best Airport Middle East
World Travel Awards  

2000

Highly Commended Best International Airport
Routes Awards   

Best Airport in the Middle East
Seventh World Travel Awards   

Best Technical Airport in the Middle East
It Datamatix Middle East Award    

Best Airport Middle East
Travel Intelligence Middle East Award  

1999

Best Ramp Safety Initiative
Air BP Operational Excellence Award  

1998

Best International Airport
Business Travel World UK    

Finalists Infrastructure Category
Flight International Aerospace Industry    

Best Corporate Communications
Routes Awards  

1997

Highly Commended Airport Operator of the Year
Frontier Marketing Awards    

Best Duty Free Worldwide - 2nd
Business Traveller Reader's Poll   

1996

Best International Airport
Business Travel World UK

1985

Airport Duty Free Operator of the year
Frontier Marketing Awards    

Highly Commended Best Marketing Campaign - Operator
Frontier Marketing Awards

*****