2026 Skytrax World Airport Award winners revealed

Airports across the GCC secured multiple wins at the 2026 Skytrax World Airport Awards, presented during a ceremony held at Passenger Terminal Expo & Conference (PTE World) in London on 18 March 2026.

 

Bahrain was among the most awarded Gulf country, with Bahrain International Airport named the World’s Best Airport for 5 to 10 million passengers, while also earning regional honours for Best Airport Staff and the Cleanest Airport in the Middle East. Meanwhile, Mövenpick Hotel Bahrain earned the award for Best Airport Hotel in the Middle East.

 

In Saudi Arabia, Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport (KKIA) was recognised as the Best Airport for 30 to 40 million passengers, as well as the World’s Most Improved Airport. These accolades follow the recent redevelopment of Terminal 2 at KKIA, which enhanced security screenings, upgraded baggage services and improved passenger circulation. 

 

By 2029, the hub is expected to be replaced by the upcoming King Salman International Airport (KSIA), set to serve as Riyadh’s new gateway. Elsewhere in the kingdom, Medina’s Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport secured the title of Best Regional Airport in the Middle East.

 

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Skytrax also released its annual ranking of the world’s top 100 airports, with Singapore Changi Airport claiming the number one spot for the 14th time in the awards’ history.

 

Regionally, three GCC hubs featured in the top 20: the UAE’s Dubai International Airport at 13, Saudi’s King Khalid International Airport at 14 and Bahrain International Airport at 20, reflecting their consistent performance in global rankings. 

 

For 2026, Qatar’s Hamad International Airport did not participate in the awards or PTE World, formally withdrawing from all industry events and ceremonies, citing ongoing regional tensions.

 

Despite this, Qatar Airways recently topped the AirlineRatings.com World’s Best Airline list, due to its gate-to-gate Starlink WiFi service, Business Class Qsuites and improved economy offerings. Other regional airlines, including Emirates and Etihad, were also among AirlineRatings.com’s top 10, ranking eighth and 10th, respectively.

 

For more information, visit worldairportawards.com