Abu Dhabi: Zayed International Airport (AUH) has been named the World’s Most Beautiful Airport at the Prix Versailles, The World Architecture and Design Award, recognizing its exceptional architectural design in the Airports category.
The announcement, made at a ceremony in Paris at UNESCO’s Headquarters, coincided with the airport’s first anniversary and the UAE’s Eid Al Etihad 53 celebrations.
Despite strong global competition, Zayed International Airport secured the top position in this prestigious category, setting a new benchmark for airport excellence worldwide in its first year of operation.
The airport’s design features Islamic geometric motifs that reflect Abu Dhabi’s natural environment and cultural heritage.
One of its standout features is the Sana Al Nour art installation, one of the largest in the Middle East, which directs air and light to improve energy efficiency, reducing demand by 10%.
The airport spans 742,000 square meters, with an X-shaped design that can accommodate 11,000 passengers per hour and 79 aircraft simultaneously.
This increases its capacity significantly, with plans to handle up to 45 million passengers annually. By 2025, AUH will introduce the world’s first nine biometric touchpoints.
Elena Sorlini, Managing Director and CEO of Abu Dhabi Airports, expressed pride in the award, highlighting it as a milestone for Abu Dhabi and the UAE, especially as it aligns with the airport’s first anniversary and the 53rd Eid Al Etihad celebrations.
This award adds to AUH’s growing list of accolades, including recognition as the fastest-growing airport in the Middle East in terms of international seat capacity and achieving a high ACI ASQ satisfaction score.
The recognition also honors the contributions of more than 25,000 team members involved in the airport’s development, reinforcing Abu Dhabi’s role as a key global destination and its commitment to innovation in aviation.
Other Notable Winners at Prix Versailles 2024:
- World Selection: Felipe Ángeles International Airport, Zumpango, Mexico
- Special Prize for an Interior: Changi Airport, Terminal 2, Singapore
- Special Prize for an Exterior: Suvarnabhumi Airport, Midfield Satellite 1, Bangkok, Thailand
- World Selection: Logan International Airport, Terminal E, Boston, US
- World Selection: Kansas City International Airport, Kansas City, US