Dubai Airport Declared the Best Globally for Food and Retail in AirHelp Score 2025

The UAE is soaring high, with Dubai and Abu Dhabi International Airports making the top 20 globally in the latest ranking by AirHelp, the travel tech firm aiding passengers with flight disruptions.

Dubai International Airport has been awarded the title of the best airport for food and shops, achieving a remarkable score of 9.1 out of 10, while placing 18th overall with an impressive 8.14 points. Abu Dhabi Airport closely follows in 19th place, scoring 8.11 points.

Tomasz Pawliszyn, CEO of AirHelp, stated: “At AirHelp, we believe passengers should be able to evaluate air travel based on various factors, beyond just ticket prices. Our aim is to provide insights into flight performance and help travelers foresee their airport experiences. Through the AirHelp Score, we can more effectively inform passengers about their options when facing delays, cancellations, or overbookings.”

The 2025 AirHelp Score evaluated 250 airports across 68 countries, showcasing a notable rise from the Middle East, with eight airports now in the global top 20, a jump from only two in 2024, signifying the region’s growing excellence in aviation.

Airports were rated on three key criteria: Punctuality, Customer Opinions, and Food & Shops. Cape Town International Airport in South Africa earned the title of the world’s best airport with an impressive score of 8.57.

Middle East on the Rise

Leading the region is Doha Hamad International Airport in Qatar, which garnered an impressive 8.52 points, taking second place globally and the title of the top airport in the region. Knockings on its heels is Riyadh King Khaled International Airport in Saudi Arabia, which jumped remarkably from 33rd to 3rd place worldwide, earning a score of 8.47, establishing it as the second-highest ranked airport in the Middle East and among the largest in the world. Meanwhile, Muscat International Airport in Oman shares the same score, placing it 3rd in the region and 5th overall.

Since its inception in 2015, the AirHelp Score has assisted travelers in making informed choices by ranking the performance of airlines and airports globally. To better assist travelers ahead of the busy summer months, this year, airport and airline rankings will be published separately, providing timely access to the latest performance data.