Sharjah International Airport is closing in on the biggest expansion phase in its history: 18 work packages worth a combined Dh2.4 billion, a Dh1.235 billion new passenger terminal, and a capacity target of 25 million passengers a year by mid-2027. The hub handled 5.1 million passengers in Q3 2025 alone, up 16.7% year on year.
The programme's scope and status are set out by Gulf News; traffic numbers and progress across the 18 packages have been confirmed by WAM, citing Sharjah Airport Authority (SAA) and its chairman Sheikh Faisal bin Saud Al Qasimi. Works began in January 2024 when the foundation stone was laid by the Crown Prince of Sharjah, Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi; in December 2025 the SAA chairman publicly confirmed that the project was on schedule.
What the programme covers
The 18 work packages span the passenger and cargo footprints: the new terminal, ramp and landside access expansion, additional contact gates, upgrades to the baggage-handling system, taxiways and aircraft stands. The flagship item is the Dh1.235 billion new passenger terminal. Once the terminal phase is complete, annual capacity will lift to around 20 million passengers; the full 25 million will be delivered as the remaining packages finish by mid-2027.
Why it matters for Sharjah
The airport is the UAE's third-busiest after DXB and AUH, and the country's largest low-cost hub, anchored by home carrier Air Arabia. Steady double-digit traffic growth reflects the expansion of Air Arabia's route network — along with its subsidiary brands — into MENA, South Asia and Eastern Europe, plus a rising share of expat and MICE traffic. For Sharjah, the airport is both a transport backbone and a multiplier for the emirate's hospitality sector, exhibitions industry (Expo Centre Sharjah is adjacent) and freight operations.
Context: the UAE as an aviation hub
In 2025 the UAE's three main airports — DXB, AUH and SHJ — together handled record passenger volumes, and Q3 2025 data has Sharjah outpacing market averages. The SHJ expansion fits a broader national playbook: aviation remains a cornerstone sector of the economy, alongside Dubai Airports' investments at DWC and the modernisation of AUH. We dig into the wider macro priorities and investment trends in our UAE economy 2026 outlook.
What it delivers for business and expats
More capacity means more flights, more competitive pricing on core routes and shorter queues at immigration and baggage. Companies anchored in Sharjah (SAIF-Zone, Hamriyah and HFZA free zones) gain lower logistics costs and better access to Air Arabia's networks across the Middle East, India, Pakistan and the CIS. For expats and investors, the shift means easier frequent travel and improved multimodal connectivity with Dubai. If you are weighing Sharjah as a hub for cargo and distribution activity, see our brief on setting up a UAE logistics centre.
