ULWE- Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMI) began international operations on Wednesday, with Air India Express (IX) operating the first overseas flight from the airport to Abu Dhabi (AUH). The inaugural Boeing 737 MAX 8 service carried around 100 passengers and opened a new chapter for the recently launched airport.
The flight departed at 2.55 am (IST) and reached Zayed International Airport (AUH) in the United Arab Emirates after about two and a half hours. Air India Express (IX) will operate this route between Navi Mumbai (NMI) and Abu Dhabi (AUH) three times a week, adding to its growing network from the Mumbai (BOM) region.
Air India Express Opens Overseas Flights at NMIA
The first international departure marked a significant step for Navi Mumbai International Airport, which had so far handled only domestic traffic. As the aircraft prepared for takeoff, the pilot in command described the service as a historic flight and a landmark journey.
Passenger Shakir Abid, who travelled on the inaugural flight with his wife and daughter, said he felt excited and viewed the journey as a way to create good memories. The family plans to take a connecting flight from Abu Dhabi (AUH) to Muscat (MCT), where they will celebrate their daughter Safa Abid’s third birthday later this week.
The inaugural service also carried NMIA’s first global perishable export shipment, signalling the airport’s early entry into international cargo movement alongside passenger operations.
Rapid Growth Since the Domestic Launch
Navi Mumbai International Airport is being developed in multiple phases and started domestic services on December 25, 2025. In less than seven months, the airport has recorded strong operational progress.
The airport now connects 46 domestic destinations and has served more than 2.3 million passengers.
It currently handles around 150 Air Traffic Movements (ATMs) each day, reflecting steady demand across its expanding route map.
Ownership Structure and Dual-Airport Strategy
Air India Express Chairman Nipun Aggarwal said Navi Mumbai forms a key pillar of the airline’s dual-airport strategy, complementing its network from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (BOM) in Mumbai. The approach allows the carrier to serve passengers across both airports within the wider metropolitan area.
Adani Airport Holdings Ltd (AAHL) CEO Arun Bansal said in the release, “The launch of our first scheduled international flight marks the beginning of a new phase in Navi Mumbai International Airport’s journey.”
The airport is developed by Navi Mumbai International Airport Ltd (NMIAL), a special purpose vehicle that is 74 per cent owned by AAHL. The remaining shareholding rests with the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO).
Abu Dhabi Travel Guide
Abu Dhabi, the largest emirate and capital of the United Arab Emirates, blends ancient heritage with futuristic ambition. The city pairs record-breaking architecture and world-class attractions with wooden dhows, traditional souks, and Bedouin desert camps.
Visitors can view leaning towers and circular skyscrapers one day, then haggle for spices in Al Ain or sleep beneath desert stars the next. This mix of modern luxury and living tradition defines the emirate’s appeal.
Where Old Trade Routes Meet New Skylines
The Observation Deck at 300, located inside Jumeirah at Etihad Towers, sits 300 metres above the city and offers views of Abu Dhabi’s modern landmarks. Among them stands Capital Gate, recognised as the world’s most steeply leaning tower.
The Aldar Headquarters in the Al Raha neighbourhood is the world’s first circular skyscraper. MZ Architects designed the steel-and-glass structure, known as the “Coin Building,” and drew inspiration from the shape of a clam shell as a nod to Abu Dhabi’s seafaring heritage. Nearby, Masdar City combines age-old wind cooling techniques with driverless electric taxis to create a green urban model.
Tradition remains central to daily life. Wooden dhows chug into the port, elderly men gather in shisha cafes, and traders still haggle in souks for freshly caught fish. In the oasis city of Al Ain, buyers negotiate for incense, spices, henna, oud, coffee pots, and even camels.
Landmarks Of Faith, Luxury, And History
The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque impresses visitors with white marble, more than 80 domes, Swarovski crystal chandeliers, and the world’s largest hand-knotted carpet. The Emirates Palace hotel matches this grandeur, featuring a gold-bar vending machine and a gallery that sells ancient sculptures.
History runs deep across the emirate. Restorers have revived desert forts such as Qasr Al Muwaiji and Al Jahili, while Hili Archaeological Park preserves tombs that date back to the Bronze Age.
Theme Parks Built For Speed And Thrills
Ferrari World Abu Dhabi accelerates riders to 150mph in under five seconds on the world’s fastest rollercoaster and carries them through the highest loop. Yas Waterworld adds 10ft waves and a 750ft water slide, while Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi invites guests to explore six immersive worlds and meet familiar characters.
Culture On Saadiyat Island
The Louvre Abu Dhabi anchors the cultural district on Saadiyat Island. Jean Nouvel designed the museum, which holds 23 naturally-lit galleries showcasing more than 600 works from the Louvre Paris, other leading French museums, and its own collection, including a marble bust of Alexander the Great. The nearby Manarat Al Saadiyat complex hosts the annual Abu Dhabi Art event and displays work by local artists.
Emirati Cuisine And The Corniche
Emirati cuisine reflects the eastern spices and desert produce that have passed through Abu Dhabi port for centuries. Signature dishes include al harees, meat and wheat slow-cooked in a clay oven, al majboos, meat stewed in spices and limes, and al madrooba, spicy salted fish.
After a meal, visitors can walk the Corniche, Abu Dhabi Island’s waterfront lined with landscaped gardens and shady palms. At the Yas Marina F1 circuit, the public can cycle, stroll, or run the track for free on Sunday and Tuesday evenings, with Wednesday sessions reserved for women only.
Beaches Along The Arabian Gulf
The emirate sits between the world’s largest continuous sand desert and the Arabian Gulf, giving it a wide choice of sandy beaches.
The Corniche stretches for miles and provides separate areas for singles, groups, families, and those seeking quiet, with many stretches free to use and Blue-Flagged. Saadiyat Beach keeps a low-key charm, where restricted development protects wildlife such as hatching hawksbill turtles. Yas Beach offers an infinity pool, a beach club with a resident DJ, an outdoor gym, and watersports, with free entry for Yas Island hotel guests.
World-Class Resorts And Spas
Abu Dhabi offers a wide range of luxury resorts. The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, part of the Marriott brand, sits on the six-mile Saadiyat Beach and features seven bars and restaurants, an art gallery, and the Iridium Spa. Saadiyat Rotana Resort & Villas adds mini-minarets, Islamic arches, and a Seven Sands display, along with a Turkish bath and Moroccan hammam.
Families favour Khalidiya Palace Rayhaan for its private beach, large pool, and dedicated facilities for children. The Westin Abu Dhabi Golf Resort & Spa borders the Abu Dhabi Golf Club and provides 172 spacious rooms and three swimming pools. Deep in the Empty Quarter, Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara offers former royal villas with butlers and pools, along with dune bashing and camel trekking.
Sport And Desert Heritage
Sport holds a strong place in Abu Dhabi’s heritage. Each December, thousands of camels gather at Madinat Zayed for the Al Dhafra Festival, which features camel beauty contests, camel races, falconry, Arab horsemanship displays, and saluki races.
Falconry draws major prize money at events such as the annual President’s Cup Falcon Competition. Falcons are so valuable that they have a dedicated Falcon Hospital near the airport, now a popular tourist attraction with a free-flight aviary. Motorsport also thrives here, as the Yas Marina Circuit hosts the Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix each November alongside rallycross and drag racing.
Adventure In The Empty Quarter
Arabia’s Empty Quarter, the Rub’ al Khali, is the world’s largest uninterrupted sand mass, with dunes rising in places to 1,000ft. Day trips carry travellers over the dunes in four-wheel drives, followed by sunset views and Arabian dinners beneath the stars.
For a deeper experience, visitors can sleep in a Bedouin tent, sip mint tea, and try henna body painting, falconry displays, and camel riding. The largest dunes near Liwa Oasis draw thrill seekers for sandboarding, sand-skiing, quad biking, fat-biking, and dune bashing.
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