Qatar Pairs Up with Türkiye and the UAE as Doha, Istanbul, Abu Dhabi, and Dubai Claim Four Global Top Five Airport Places for Travellers

Written By: Subhadip Dey

Subhadip Dey

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July 20, 2026 20:02 GMT+5:30

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Qatar has paired up with Türkiye and the United Arab Emirates in a powerful display of regional aviation influence after four gateways secured places among the five highest-rated international airports in the Travel + Leisure 2026 World’s Best Awards. Hamad International Airport in Doha finished second globally with 93.96 points, followed by Istanbul Airport in third place with 92.13. Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi ranked fourth with 91.24, while Dubai International Airport completed the leading group in fifth position with 91.06. Singapore Changi Airport retained the global crown with a reader score of 95.19.

The results reinforce the growing importance of Qatar, Türkiye and the UAE within international tourism, long-haul aviation and connecting travel. Doha, Istanbul, Abu Dhabi and Dubai have developed into major gateways linking Europe, Asia, Africa, the Americas and Australasia. Their strong showing also reflects extensive investment in modern terminals, passenger processing, retail, dining, airport hotels, lounges and destination connectivity. However, the description of these facilities as trusted airports requires context. The underlying awards measure reader preferences and perceived travel experiences. They do not constitute an independent examination of airport safety, flight punctuality, regulatory compliance or current airspace risk.

Global Airport Ranking Places Regional Hubs Near the Summit

Travel + Leisure published the international airport results as part of its annual World’s Best Awards. More than 207,000 readers participated across all award categories, submitting approximately 661,000 votes covering over 10,088 travel properties and experiences.

The 4.54-point difference between Dubai in fifth place and Hong Kong in sixth created a pronounced separation between the leading five airports and the remainder of the ranking.

Passenger Experience Rather Than Operational Safety

Travel + Leisure’s detailed airport framework has assessed access, check-in and security processing, restaurants and bars, shopping and terminal design. Respondents rate these characteristics from excellent to poor, with scores calculated from their answers.

The survey therefore captures how participating readers remember an airport journey. It does not establish which airport has the strongest security system or best punctuality record. The publication has not disclosed the number of airport-specific respondents, their geographical distribution or statistical confidence intervals for the individual scores.

The Connecting Travel description of the facilities as the Middle East’s most trusted airports should consequently be interpreted as editorial language. Highest-rated international airports for passenger experience would be a more precise description.

Doha Rises as Hamad International Expands Capacity

Hamad International climbed from third place in 2025 to second in 2026, while its score increased from 92.34 to 93.96. The improvement followed the completion of Concourses D and E, which added 17 contact gates and raised annual airport capacity beyond 65 million passengers.

The Doha hub served 54.3 million passengers in 2025, representing annual growth of three per cent. Point-to-point traffic reached 13.5 million, showing that the airport is supporting Qatar’s tourism economy as well as Qatar Airways’ connecting network.

Its indoor Orchard garden, art collection, airport hotels, wellness facilities and premium lounges closely match the experiential qualities measured by the reader survey. The additional gates have also reduced dependence on remote stands and bus transfers.

Istanbul Remains Highly Rated Despite Losing the Crown

Istanbul Airport moved from first to third after its reader score declined from 98.57 in 2025 to 92.13. Although the decrease was substantial, the airport retained an influential position among the world’s leading gateways.

More than 84 million passengers used Istanbul Airport during 2025. Its network reaches over 330 destinations, supported by the scale of Turkish Airlines and Türkiye’s position between Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

Istanbul’s inclusion in a Middle Eastern interpretation requires geographical context. The airport stands on the European side of Türkiye and is normally classified as a European aviation gateway. Some tourism publications nevertheless place Istanbul within broader Middle East and North Africa coverage because of the city’s transcontinental identity. Under a strict Gulf definition, only Doha, Abu Dhabi and Dubai represent the region in the top five.

Abu Dhabi Edges Dubai in Close UAE Contest

Zayed International retained fourth place while improving from 89.48 to 91.24. The result followed the second complete year of operations at its new terminal, which can handle approximately 45 million passengers annually.

The Abu Dhabi gateway welcomed a record 32.5 million passengers in 2025, up 13 per cent. Its expanding network gained 39 routes and seven airlines during the year, strengthening Abu Dhabi’s position for leisure, business and transfer travel.

Zayed International finished only 0.18 points ahead of Dubai. That narrow margin is notable because Dubai handled almost three times as many passengers, demonstrating that the reader ranking rewards perceived quality rather than airport size.

Dubai Combines Record Traffic with Faster Processing

Dubai International recorded 95.2 million passengers in 2025, the highest annual international traffic handled by any airport. It connected travellers with 291 destinations in 110 countries through 108 airlines.

Despite operating close to its physical limits, Dubai reported that 98.9 per cent of passengers waited less than five minutes at security. More than 99 per cent spent under ten minutes at departure passport control. Its 2026 reader score rose by 2.68 points, the largest improvement among the four regional gateways.

Dubai’s combination of extensive flight choices, metro access, large retail areas, lounges and round-the-clock services remains particularly valuable for travellers connecting between Europe, Asia and Africa.

Rankings Strengthen Regional Tourism Competition

The four placements illustrate how airports have become central components of destination development. Doha, Istanbul, Abu Dhabi and Dubai are no longer functioning solely as transit points. Stopover programmes, airport hotels, cultural installations, shopping and fast city-centre connections are encouraging connecting passengers to become short-stay visitors.

The results may also intensify competition among Gulf destinations. Qatar and the UAE are expanding aviation capacity while using their airlines and airports to support hotel demand, events, business travel and international tourism.

Passenger rankings can influence traveller perceptions, but they should be considered alongside fares, connection times, entry requirements, accessibility and operational reliability when itineraries are planned.

Current Travel Conditions Require Separate Consideration

An airport award does not replace official travel or airspace guidance. An active European Union Aviation Safety Agency bulletin issued on 14 July 2026 advised covered operators not to use Qatar and UAE airspace, alongside Bahrain, Kuwait and part of the Gulf of Oman, until 29 July unless reviewed earlier.

The bulletin is not a universal airport closure, but it may affect routes, cancellations and journey times. Passengers travelling through Doha, Abu Dhabi or Dubai should confirm flight status with their airline and review official government advice shortly before departure.

Conclusion

The ranking provides strong evidence of positive traveller sentiment towards Doha, Istanbul, Abu Dhabi and Dubai. It also underlines the role of airport design, connectivity and passenger services in strengthening tourism competitiveness. Nevertheless, the results should be described as reader-rated experience rankings rather than definitive measures of trust or aviation safety.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which airport ranked first globally in the 2026 list?

Singapore Changi Airport finished first with a reader score of 95.19.

Which Middle Eastern airport received the highest position?

Hamad International Airport in Doha placed second globally with 93.96 points.

Where did Istanbul Airport rank?

Istanbul Airport secured third position with a score of 92.13.

Which UAE airport ranked higher?

Zayed International ranked fourth, narrowly ahead of fifth-placed Dubai International.

How many passengers used Hamad International in 2025?

The Doha airport handled approximately 54.3 million passengers during 2025.

How many travellers passed through Dubai International?

Dubai International welcomed a record 95.2 million passengers in 2025.

Does the ranking measure aviation safety?

No. It primarily reflects reader opinions about access, processing, amenities, shopping and design.

Why is Istanbul included in Middle East coverage?

Istanbul is transcontinental, although its principal airport lies on Türkiye’s European side.

Can travellers rely solely on airport awards?

No. Flight schedules, government advice, entry rules and live airspace conditions must also be checked.

Are Doha Abu Dhabi and Dubai airports closed?

The ranking does not indicate closures. Passengers should obtain current operational information directly from airlines and airports.