Emirates celebrates 40 years of operations in Egypt
Since the start of operations, the airline has carried 13.2 million passengers on nearly 50,000 flights between Dubai and Cairo
Cairo, Egypt, 25 October 2026: Emirates, the world’s largest international airline, marked 40 years of operations in Egypt with a gala dinner at the Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo, celebrating its role in connecting the country with the UAE and the world.
The gala dinner was attended by Yomna El Bahar, Vice Minister of Tourism and Antiquities of Egypt; Sameh Fawzy, President of the Egyptian Civil Aviation Authority; Magdy Ishak Azzer, chairman and chief executive of Cairo Airport Company; and Abdelbaset Al Marzouqi, Deputy Head of Mission for Consular Affairs at the UAE Embassy in Egypt, alongside senior officials, aviation, travel and tourism partners, and media representatives.
Also in attendance were Adnan Kazim, Emirates' Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer; Adel Al Ghaith, Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations (Centre) at Emirates Airline; Khaled Bel Jaflah, Divisional Vice President for Commercial Operations, Middle East and North Africa, Emirates; and Abdulla Al Zamani, Emirates’ Country Manager in Egypt, along with other senior Emirates executives.
The event celebrated the airline’s long-standing relationship with Egypt and its role in strengthening air connectivity, supporting tourism and trade, and making travel easier for millions of passengers from Cairo to Dubai and beyond.
The evening featured performances by internationally acclaimed violinist and composer, Jihad Akl, Karen Daniel along with her jazz band, and Ahmed Saad, one of Egypt’s most popular artists. The airline also awarded top Egyptian travel agency partners, recognising their support for the airline and its growth in the Egyptian market.
Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer, said: “Egypt holds a special place in the Emirates story. It was one of the first destinations we launched after the airline was founded, and our relationship has grown immensely over the last four decades, driven by the trust of our customers and close collaboration with our partners. We are proud of the role Emirates has played in connecting Egypt with the UAE and global markets, and in supporting inbound travel, tourism and trade. Egypt has significant economic and tourism potential, and we see promising opportunities to keep supporting travel growth, particularly with new landmark projects such as the Grand Egyptian Museum.”
Four decades of connecting Egypt to the world
Emirates began flying to Cairo in April 1986, less than a year after its launch, making Egypt the first market in the Middle East and Africa region to join its network, initially with just three weekly flights.
Today, the airline operates five daily flights between Dubai and Cairo, being served a mix of Airbus A380 and Boeing 777 aircraft. In the last 40 years, the airline has carried over 13.2 million passengers on close to 50,000 flights between Cairo and Dubai and vice versa, reflecting the continued growth of its operations and the importance of Egypt within its global network.
Through its Dubai hub, Emirates connects travellers from Egypt to close to 140 destinations across six continents, including top destinations for travellers from Egypt like Dubai, Kuala Lumpur, Taipei, Seoul, Osaka and Hong Kong. The key destinations travel into Cairo include Dubai, Kuala Lumpur, Taipei, Seoul, Osaka and Shanghai.
Emirates continues to support the growth of Egypt’s tourism sector and contribute to the goals of the country’s national tourism strategy, which aims to attract 30 million visitors a year by 2028, by strengthening air connectivity and facilitating access for visitors from international markets.
Supporting Egyptian trade and exports
Beyond passenger services, Emirates SkyCargo plays a role in supporting Egyptian trade, connecting local businesses to international markets by transporting a wide range of products across its global network. In the last 5 years, Emirates SkyCargo has carried over 170,000 tonnes of exports and imports between Cairo and the world, utilising the belly hold capacity of passenger flights.
Some key Egyptian exports carried by Emirates SkyCargo include fresh fruit and vegetables, seafood and other perishables, among them grapes, guavas, mangoes and strawberries, as well as fresh vegetables and herbs. Exports of Egyptian strawberries are particularly active during the season from November to March, with the main export markets being the Middle East, Europe and East Asia. The imports into Egypt include electronics, pharmaceuticals and general cargo.
Continued investment in the customer experience
Emirates continues to enhance the experience of customers travelling to and from Egypt with its latest products and services on the ground and in the air, including the operation of Airbus A380 and Boeing 777 aircraft on Cairo flights.
Customers departing from Cairo can enjoy the Emirates Lounge at Cairo International Airport, which opened in 2018, as well as the Emirates World store, opened in January 2025, offering personalised travel advice, an opportunity to explore the airline’s products and services before travelling, and more importantly, a one-stop-shop for customers to seamlessly book their upcoming travels.