Emirates and the Mozambique National Agency for Tourism Development and Investment, Public Fund (ANDITUR) have partnered to support the growth of international tourism into Mozambique. The agreement will see the partners explore opportunities to promote Mozambique to international travellers in key regions through airline partnerships across Africa to provide seamless, convenient connectivity into Mozambique. With an extensive 2,500 KM of coastline, Mozambique is world-renowned for beach getaways and ocean adventures, rich cultural experiences, fusion gastronomy and bustling urban cities, making it a unique and varied holiday with something to offer travellers from all over the world.

Emirates and the Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) have signed a partnership agreement to strengthen collaboration and support the growth of inbound tourism to Kenya. Already one of the most consistently in-demand destinations on the airline’s Africa network, the partnership will build on this strong demand and help unlock new opportunities for Kenya to attract visitors from emerging and established markets around the world. Tourism is a key pillar in Kenya’s economy, creating thousands of employment opportunities and serving millions of tourists who visit the country each year. The Kenya Tourism Board has bold plans to establish Kenya as the most visited tourism destination in Africa, with a year-round calendar of diverse, sustainable and authentic experiences that appeal to a swathe of international visitors.

Emirates and Alibaba Fliggy one of China's largest OTAs, have signed an MoU to strengthen their strategic partnership in China, combining Emirates’ global network with Alibaba Fliggy’s extensive digital travel platform. The collaboration will focus on co-branded marketing campaigns, customer engagement initiatives, and potential integration opportunities between Emirates Skywards and Alibaba Fliggy’s membership ecosystem. Together, the partners aim to enhance brand visibility, drive travel demand, and deliver more personalised travel experiences for Chinese consumers.

Emirates and MSC Cruises have signed an MoU that broadens their long-standing partnership across fly-cruise distribution, air-sea product integration, crew travel and customer loyalty initiatives at different touchpoints. The agreement builds on more than a decade of partnership.

Under the latest MoU, Emirates and MSC Cruises will expand fly-cruise distribution across the Emirates network in line with MSC Cruises' seasonal homeport strategy, developing through-fares, open-jaw itineraries and reviewing gateway markets to identify further opportunities for collaboration. The partnership will additionally develop tailored products for MSC Grand Voyages and repositioning cruises, drawing on the Emirates network to create seamless one-way travel options for guests sailing between regions. Emirates and MCS will explore extending the Port Rashid model in Dubai to additional cruise ports, covering terminal check-in, through-baggage solutions, coordinated transfers, and joint protocols for managing disruption and repatriation of Emirates cruise customers and MSC guests.

A new feature of the partnership includes crew mobility, and Emirates and MSC Cruises will strengthen cooperation on seafarer rotations, with Emirates positioned as a preferred carrier with dedicated crew fares, enhanced baggage allowances and specialised servicing channels catering to seafarer requirements.

Emirates signed with the Finnish Business Council (FBC), a non-profit organisation supporting Finnish businesses and professionals in the UAE, to build a relationship that helps introduce Emirates more widely to the Finnish business community, especially with the new direct Dubai–Helsinki route starting 1 October. As part of the partnership, Emirates will offer FBC members exclusive benefits, while FBC will facilitate engagement opportunities between Emirates and its member community, supporting stronger connections and ongoing interaction with its network.

Emirates has partnered with the Vietnamese Business Council (VNBC), a non-profit organisation supporting Vietnamese businesses and professionals in the UAE, to build closer ties with the Vietnamese business community. The agreement follows the announcement of additional services to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City from this winter, giving members greater choice when travelling between the airline’s Vietnamese points and Dubai. Under the partnership, VNBC members will access exclusive benefits from Emirates, while VNBC will create engagement opportunities across its network and the airline.

Emirates has partnered with Cutting Edge, a leading Travel Management Company specialised in international sports tourism, to develop bespoke travel packages for fans attending major sporting events worldwide. Combining Emirates' network of close to 140 destinations with Cutting Edge's access across cricket, football, motorsports, golf and tennis, the partnership offers complete journeys that align with Emirates' sponsorship properties and other major fixtures on the sporting calendar.

Emirates Holidays, the tour operating arm of Emirates Airline, and the Spain Tourism Office have signed an MoU to drive inbound tourism to Spain. The partnership aims to inspiring more travellers from Emirates’ extensive Middle East network to experience Spain's rich culture, diverse landscapes and world-class hospitality, through Emirates Holidays’ curated packages.

The partnership will see Emirates Holidays and the Spain Tourism Office explore a series of initiatives designed to increase destination awareness in key markets across the Middle East and encourage package holiday bookings. These include integrated marketing campaigns, seasonal promotions highlighting the variety of tourism experiences in Spain as well as exclusive holiday packages combining Emirates' award-winning flights with premium accommodation, unique local experiences and added traveller benefits.

Emirates Skywards and Emirates Islamic have strengthened their long-standing partnership through the renewal of the strategic agreement at ATM, committing to a continued focus on product innovation and enhancing the benefits and experiences available to the Emirates Islamic Skywards cobrand cardholders.

Building on an 18-year collaboration, the partnership has grown to span three Emirates Skywards cobranded cards, including the award-winning metal Emirates Islamic Skywards Black Card, as well as a co-branded Savings Account, Salary Transfer proposition and a Miles exchange product.

The partnership began with the launch of the Emirates Islamic Skywards Card in 2008, which marked the introduction of the first Islamic co-branded airline credit card in the region, bringing together Emirates Islamic’s Shariah-compliant banking proposition with the benefits of the Emirates Skywards loyalty programme.  The 2026 agreement will continue to focus on product innovation and delivering enhanced, more personalised benefits and experiences for Emirates Skywards co-brand cardholders, further strengthening the value proposition for Emirates Islamic customers.

The partnership supports the goals of Dubai’s Education 33 (E33) strategy by enhancing student accessibility, strengthening international connectivity, and promoting the City of Students game changer and Study Dubai programme in key global markets.

The MoU was signed on the sidelines of Arabian Travel Market 2026 by Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer and Dr Wafi Dawood, CEO of Strategic Development Sector at KHDA.

Under the MoU, Emirates will develop travel programmes which include a wide range of benefits and privileges for students at KHDA-regulated private higher education institutions. The Emirates and KHDA student proposition includes specially tailored fares, additional baggage and greater flexibility when booking their travel to and from Dubai and across the Emirates network. Faculty and teaching staff will access travel benefits through the Emirates Academic Programme. The airline will also provide dedicated travel support for students on the Hamdan bin Mohammed Scholarship Programme.

Emirates will also join Study Dubai student recruitment missions and international activation events alongside KHDA, the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism and TECOM Group, promoting Dubai as an attractive global study destination in key markets within the Emirates network. Emirates and KHDA will also share insights on international student travel flows and coordinate on jointly marketing Dubai as a leading higher education destination.

Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer, said: “Emirates is proud to support KHDA’s efforts in positioning Dubai as a top global destination for students to pursue higher education. Global connectivity, a compelling value proposition and promotional efforts will underpin that goal, and our network of close to 140 destinations puts us in a strong position to attract more students, bring them and their families to Dubai anytime of the year and on repeat journeys to support them throughout their studies. It will also help us build a loyal base of younger travellers and a connection that endures long after graduation. By keeping Dubai among the most connected cities in the world, Emirates supports Dubai’s Economic Agenda (D33) strategy across tourism, trade, logistics and now education."

Dr Wafi Dawood, CEO of the Strategic Development Sector at KHDA, said: "Attracting and retaining global talent is central to the vision of E33 strategy. This partnership with Emirates supports that ambition by making Dubai more accessible and attractive to students worldwide. Through enhanced travel benefits, greater flexibility and improved connectivity, we are helping to create a seamless learning journey from enrolment through to graduation. At the same time, Emirates' global network will strengthen the reach of our Study Dubai programme, enabling us to connect with prospective students in key international markets and showcase the opportunities available across Dubai's higher education sector. Together, we are creating a more connected and rewarding student experience.”

Education is a key initiative under Dubai's Economic Agenda (D33) and is delivered through the Education 33 (E33) strategy. Under its City of Students game changer, E33 aims to increase the proportion of international students enrolled in Dubai’s higher education institutions to 50% by 2033. The strategy also seeks to position Dubai among the world’s top 10 student cities and increase education tourism tenfold.

Emirates has also signed an MoU with the International Consultants for Exhibitions and Fairs (ICEF), the leading B2B network in international education, becoming its preferred airline for education travel. The MoU was signed on the sidelines of ATM. ICEF operates across more than 100 countries, connecting accredited education agencies with institutions worldwide through its events, training programmes and market intelligence platforms, including ICEF Monitor.

Under the partnership, Emirates and ICEF will collaborate to develop dedicated travel propositions for ICEF-accredited agencies and their student customers travelling across the airline's network, with plans to explore booking support and account management for ICEF member organisations. The partnership will also see co-branded campaigns targeting international students and education professionals, alongside Emirates’ presence at major ICEF events in Berlin, Dubai and the US, further strengthening the airline's visibility within the global education community.

The agreement also extends to training and market intelligence. Emirates will participate in ICEF Academy programmes for education agents, share insights on student travel and destination trends, and contribute to ICEF conferences with speaking and industry partnership opportunities.

Together, the partnerships reinforce Dubai's role as a global education hub and a natural connecting point for students travelling between home and campus.

About Knowledge and Human Development Authority

The Knowledge and Human Development Authority is responsible for the growth, direction, and quality of private education in Dubai. Guided by the Education 33 Strategy, KHDA is working to build an agile, inclusive, and future-ready education system that supports lifelong learning and empowers every individual to thrive in a rapidly changing world. KHDA’s efforts contribute to the goals of the Dubai Plan 33 and its social and economic agendas and support the emirate’s vision to be a global leader in innovation, talent development, and quality of life.

His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, visited Emirates' stand during the second day of ATM, touring the airline’s product showcases on display. He was briefed by senior Emirates leadership on the airline's latest cabin innovations and passenger experience enhancements.

Emirates and the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) have renewed their partnership, building on a collaboration first established in 2022. Under the terms of the agreement, Emirates will continue to draw on its network of almost 140 destinations to promote Sri Lanka to global audiences and support the growth of visitor arrivals. The country welcomed more than 2.3 million international tourists last year, a 15.1 percent increase on the two million recorded the previous year. Emirates and SLTPB work together on a range of initiatives including marketing campaigns, tailored excursions, trade incentives and familiarisation trips designed to showcase the island nation across key feeder markets, along with developing special packages.

Emirates and Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to boost visitor arrivals and stimulate traffic to the emirate from select markets within the airline’s network. RAKTDA and Emirates will work closely to explore implementing promotional activities including joint marketing and advertising, trade and media familiarisation programmes, with RAKTDA supporting visits through curated ground experiences that showcase the destination, in addition to multi-market campaign activities in Ras Al Khaimah’s target markets.

Both parties will explore developing bespoke products and packages for Emirates customers, to be promoted directly through 'Dubai Experience' on the airline's website, alongside incentives for tour operators and the wider travel trade – enabling tourists to explore the full range of activities and experiences the UAE has to offer.

Emirates and Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) have signed a new MoU to strengthen tourism promotion and further encourage travel between Japan, Dubai, and the wider Middle East. Emirates continues to invest in Japan through direct services to Narita, Haneda, and Kansai, with operations expected to reach 28 weekly flights in October 2026. The airline has also increased capacity through A380 deployments, introduced Chauffeur-Drive services at Narita and Kansai airports and opened a Travel Store in Osaka. The renewed partnership aims to raise awareness of Japan, meet growing travel demand, and deepen connections between the regions.

Building on years of highly successful collaborations, Emirates and the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) have renewed their partnership to jointly support the growth of inbound tourism to the archipelago nation from across the airline's global network.

The strategic partnership underscores Emirates' commitment to promoting tourism to the idyllic destination, which has been part of its West Asia and Indian Ocean network since 1987.  Air arrivals to the Maldives rose almost ten percent last year, reaching 2.25 million, according to the Ministry of Tourism and Environment's Tourism Statistics 2025 report. Emirates has supported this growth drawing on its network of almost 140 destinations to attract visitors from key markets including the US, UK and Russia.

Emirates has signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoU) with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) to strengthen support for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and their families. The partnership will explore collaboration between the two parties in the areas of welfare and social protection, repatriation assistance, reintegration and livelihood, CSR, and community engagement, including support for OWWA outreach activities across the Middle East. The collaboration underscores Emirates’ recognition of the significant contribution Filipino workers make to Dubai and the UAE.

The partnership comes at a time when the welfare of Filipino workers abroad has moved further into focus. According to the Philippine Statistics Authority's 2024 Survey on Overseas Filipinos, the UAE is now the second-largest destination for Filipino workers globally, home to an estimated 271,000 OFWs[1]. Cash remittances from the UAE reflect this scale, reaching US$750.3 million in the first half of 2026, up 4.3% from US$719.6 million in the same period last year, per Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas data[2].

Emirates and Sharjah Police have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to formalise a partnership that includes exclusive travel-related benefits for Sharjah Police employees and support for their events. Sharjah Police will promote Emirates across its communication channels and events, strengthening collaboration, employee engagement, and brand visibility for both organisations.  

The MoU was signed by Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer and Major General Dr. Ali Ahmed Bu Al Zoud, Director General of the General Department of Resources and Support Services.

Emirates and DERTOUR Group are expanding their long-standing partnership across Europe. The agreement will strengthen group-level cooperation, broaden the availability of Emirates products across DERTOUR’s sales channels, accelerate New Distribution Capability adoption, and provide customers with enhanced content and booking options. The partnership will also focus on premium leisure travel by developing exclusive experiences, supporting travel advisors, coordinating marketing and communications, and pursuing growth opportunities in Central, Eastern, and Northern Europe.

Emirates has signed strategic partnerships with Bologna Welcome and Parma Welcome to promote Italy's Emilia-Romagna region to international travellers. Through coordinated marketing campaigns, trade engagement, media outreach and familiarisation trips, the collaboration with two respective parties aims to raise awareness of the region's rich cultural heritage, world-renowned gastronomy, lifestyle experiences and business offerings.

Emirates signed an MoU with Cisalpina Tours International, one of Italy's leading travel management companies, expanding a long-standing relationship into a dedicated framework for marine crew movements, one of the industry’s most specialised travel segments. Part of MSC Group, a global cruise and shipping operator and a longstanding Emirates partner, Cisalpina brings more than 50 years of experience and direct access to maritime expertise, managing cruise crew traffic and marine logistics alongside its corporate travel and MICE business.

Building on years of collaboration, the agreement positions Emirates as a preferred airline partner for marine crew travel and the mobility business and sets out a framework for the two companies to pursue joint commercial opportunities across the Emirates network. Both parties will explore ways to combine their respective strengths in crew travel solutions and share market insights on crew travel flows, port developments and broader industry shifts to guide joint planning.

Growing airline partnerships

Kuwait Airways and Emirates have signed a Memorandum of Understanding expand their existing interline partnership into a reciprocal codeshare.  Under the new arrangement, Kuwait Airways customers will gain access to a wider range of destinations through Emirates' network via Dubai, with the ability to book multi-sector journeys on a single ticket and enjoy through-checked baggage to their final destination. Emirates customers will benefit reciprocally from Kuwait Airways' services and network.

[1] Philippine Statistics Authority. (2025). 2024 Survey on Overseas Filipinos. https://psa.gov.ph/system/files/iesd/SOF-2024-Special-Release.pdf

[2] Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. (2026). Overseas Filipino Cash Remittances. https://www.bsp.gov.ph/statistics/external/ofw2.aspx

DUBAI, UAE, 15 September 2026: Emirates and Al Etihad Payments have signed an agreement to bring Jaywan, the UAE's national card scheme to Emirates, expanding payment options for customers booking travel from Dubai.

The agreement was formally signed by Abdulla Al Olama, Vice President Commercial Operations UAE for Emirates and Andrea Cianchetti, Chief Product Officer (CPO) at Al Etihad Payments, witnessed by senior leadership from both organisations.

Starting on 16 September 2026, customers can book flights with their Jaywan cards in two ways:

• Online: At checkout, UAE-based customers can enter their Jaywan card details to complete their booking on emirates.com.
• In retail stores: Jaywan is accepted at Emirates Retail stores, with physical cards verified by staff before payment and issuance of tickets.

Emirates will accept all Jaywan cards, including the Jaywan Royal Debit Card, Jaywan Prestige Debit Card and Jaywan Prepaid Card, with the security and seamless experience customers expect at checkout when booking their travel.

Jaywan customers can also enjoy discounts across all cabin classes and most fare types, on both one-way and return fares from Dubai*. The offer is available for bookings made from 16 September 2026 until 31 August 2027, for travel until 29 February 2028.

Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer said: "Emirates already offers UAE customers a broad range of ways to pay for their travel, and Jaywan is now added as a homegrown option that adds further choice and simplicity when booking. It also means more people across the UAE that use Jaywan cards can book with Emirates as easily as they would make any other payment.

We've been working with partners across the UAE's digital payments ecosystem to accelerate cashless adoption within travel, and accepting Jaywan is one step further in delivering on our commitment. Our partnership with Al Etihad Payments and Jaywan also plays a part in strengthening the financial infrastructure the UAE is building for the years ahead.”

Dr. Tariq Al Hawi, Chief Operating Officer at Al Etihad Payments, said: “Our partnership with Emirates Airlines reinforces Jaywan’s ambition to deliver more than a payment solution by creating tangible value and a seamless experience for every cardholder. The acceptance of Jaywan cards across emirates.com and Emirates’ retail stores gives Jaywan Cardholders greater choice, flexibility and convenience, enabling them to pay seamlessly whether booking online or purchasing in person. Combined with access to exclusive fares across all cabin classes, this partnership demonstrates how Jaywan can connect everyday payments with meaningful benefits and experiences for cardholders.”

The agreement builds on Emirates' wider work to expand digital payments in the UAE. In October 2025, the airline signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Dubai Finance to promote the Dubai Cashless Strategy among international visitors, and in July it launched Crypto.com Pay™, giving eligible UAE residents another way to pay on emirates.com and the Emirates app.

Jaywan is the UAE's domestic card scheme, introduced by Al Etihad Payments for a resilient and robust national payments ecosystem. Created to handle local transactions safely and efficiently, it localises the country's card infrastructure and reinforces national financial sovereignty. Jaywan cards are issued by major banks across the UAE and are accepted by a growing network of merchants spanning ride-hailing and car rentals, restaurants, attractions, healthcare and pharmacies, retail, among other businesses.

*UAE customers can access special fares at Emirates Retail stores, with online availability coming soon.

The airline was also proud to welcome His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai, to its stand during the opening of ATM. His Highness sampled the airline's new Premium Economy electric seat with privacy dividers first-hand, reviewing the design details alongside senior Emirates leadership.

Growing demand for destinations

Emirates partners with tourism boards to build awareness in source markets across the airline’s network of nearly 140 destinations, converting interest into bookings and growing visitor flows that support the travel ecosystem in the destination. By partnering with Emirates, destinations reach new markets and audiences they couldn't access alone, while giving Emirates customers more reasons and ways to discover their attractions.

Emirates signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) and the Ministry of Tourism and Culture (MTC), renewing a partnership first established in 2013. The agreement will work towards further stimulating inbound traffic to the Seychelles via Emirates' global network of nearly 140 destinations through joint marketing campaigns and familiarisation trips for media and trade partners. Emirates operates two daily flights to Mahé, supporting steady growth in visitor arrivals, up 13 percent to nearly 400,000 in 2025, from 353,000 the year before.

Emirates and Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (MTPA) have renewed their agreement to promote the nation’s tourism and trade industries. Emirates has supported Mauritius' tourism ambitions for over two decades, growing arrivals and opening the destination to new source markets. The airline has also driven growth in tourist arrivals from Middle East markets, which rose 10.5 percent in the first half of 2026 compared with the same period last year. The renewed partnership will continue to enable the airline to promote the island nation through its network of agents in key markets, develop special packages designed to appeal to various customer segments, in addition to collaborating on joint familiarisation trips to raise awareness of the destination’s offerings to audiences in key feeder markets. Currently, Emirates’ weekly capacity to and from Mauritius stands at 19,096 seats in both directions, with three daily flights.

Emirates’ partnership with Madagascar's Ministry of Tourism and Handicrafts (MTH) will support the growth of visitor numbers to the Indian Ocean island and support its target of one million tourists by 2028. Emirates and MTH will promote Madagascar in key markets through joint advertising, working with tour operators and travel agencies on incentives and tailored packages, and running familiarisation trips for media and the travel trade.

Emirates and the Sharjah Commerce & Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) renewed their partnership to continue driving tourism growth in the emirate of Sharjah. The Memorandum of Understanding was signed by Emirates’ Adnan Kazim, Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer and His Excellency Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman of SCTDA.

The renewal builds on a long-standing relationship between the two organisations, which has centred on close collaboration across key source markets in the GCC, India, China, the Far East Asia and Europe. Emirates and SCTDA have worked side by side on joint sales calls, trade workshops, roadshows and familiarisation trips, with Emirates also supporting SCTDA in markets where it has no local representation, introducing trade partners for further engagement, and supporting MICE activity and trade visits to the emirate.

The Emirates and SCTDA partnership reflects the airline's long-standing commitment to promote inbound tourism to the UAE, working closely with other tourism bodies like the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism and Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) to encourage visitors to consider experiencing more than one destination in the country during their stay. His Excellency Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman of Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority, said: “Renewing our partnership with Emirates is a strategic step in advancing Sharjah’s tourism agenda and consolidating the emirate’s position as a distinctive, year-round destination at the heart of the UAE’s tourism landscape. Aviation partnerships of this calibre are central to how Sharjah competes globally: Emirates’ worldwide network, market intelligence and deep relationships with the international travel trade give the emirate direct access to high-value source markets and enable us to convert that reach into seamless, enriching itineraries for visitors.”

Emirates and Tourism Malaysia have renewed their partnership through a one-year MoU to support the Visit Malaysia 2026–2027 campaign, which targets 47 million foreign visitor arrivals.
The collaboration will explore joint marketing and advertising initiatives, as well as familiarisation trips for media and travel-trade partners. Emirates will promote Malaysia across its global network, supported by 21 weekly flights between Kuala Lumpur and Dubai and onward connectivity via Kuala Lumpur through its codeshare with Batik Air.

Emirates and Visit Finland signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration and drive inbound tourism to Finland from across the airline’s global network. Emirates will launch operations to Helsinki from 1 October, establishing the only year-round connectivity between Finland and the UAE and creating new opportunities for travel and tourism.

Emirates and Visit Finland will explore opportunities to promote Finland in strategic regions on the airline’s global network, including East and Southeast Asia, West Asia, Australasia and major hubs in the Middle East and Africa, along with developing programmes for trade partners and tour operators that educate and excite the industry.

Finland's National Tourism Strategy 2025–2028 aims to grow the sector while creating long-term economic and social value. The partnership will promote year-round travel across Finland's four main regions: the light-filled summers of Lakeland, the islands and forests of the Coast and Archipelago, the winter experiences of Lapland, and Helsinki's urban life and sauna culture.

Emirates and Fjord Norway, the official tourist board of Western Norway, will work closely to boost inbound tourism to the region. The agreement underscores the airline’s commitment to playing a vital role with supporting the growth of tourism in Norway through the provision of connectivity to its global network and world-class travel experiences.

Enriching the customer experience across platforms

Emirates has also renewed its long-standing strategic partnership with Huawei, reinforcing its commitment to the Chinese market and expanding collaboration across marketing, digital innovation and customer experiences. Building on successful initiatives since 2020, including the Emirates App’s integration with Huawei’s ecosystem and joint marketing campaigns, the renewed MoU will focus on strengthening brand engagement in China, advancing personalised digital travel solutions, and exploring new media opportunities. The partnership also supports Emirates’ broader growth strategy in China, where the airline has expanded its network, resumed A380 services and introduced its Premium Economy product.

Emirates and Dubai Duty Free (DDF) have signed an agreement to provide Emirates passengers, traveling to or through Dubai, with exclusive offers at DDF outlets across Dubai International Airport's Terminal 3, adding extra value to their journey. It was signed by Mohammad Al Hashimi, Vice President, Commercial Products, Dubai and Mona Al Ali, Senior Vice President – Human Resources at DDF, in the presence of Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer, and Ramesh Cidambi, DDF’s Managing Director.

The agreement reflects a shared commitment by Emirates and Dubai Duty Free, one of the world's largest airport retailers, to enhance the passenger experience on the ground, support Dubai's tourism and aviation sector, and grow traffic to and through Dubai across the Emirates network through joint initiatives between the two organisations.

Dubai, UAE, 14 September 2026: Emirates has closed the summer season ahead of expectations and enters winter with strong booking momentum across a broadening range of markets, as the airline continues to invest in its fleet and industry-leading products, in its global network, and in offering customers greater booking flexibility and comprehensive travel cover.

Between July and August, Emirates carried more than 8.6 million passengers, maintaining healthy seat load factors across its network. The airline is currently operating at around 93% of its pre-disruption capacity, with demand continuing to build as the winter travel season approaches.

Bookings for winter, beginning in late October, are tracking positively despite a broader shift where customers are making travel decisions closer to departure. South Africa, Brazil, India, Portugal, Egypt, Ghana, Colombia, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan are among the markets where demand is currently tracking ahead of last year, alongside Nepal through Emirates' partnership with flydubai.

The UAE also remains a strong outbound market, while demand for premium travel on Emirates continues to grow.

Strong summer demand

Emirates services to and from West Asia, Europe, the Middle East, the Americas and Africa all recorded seat load factors well above 75% during the summer, with particularly strong performance on routes to and from Indonesia, Côte d'Ivoire and across the UK.

Demand for Premium Economy grew across the network, with the Americas recording the strongest growth in demand for this cabin.

Dubai also continued to attract strong inbound traffic. In late August alone, more than half a million customers arrived in Dubai on Emirates flights, up 7% on the same period last year. Travellers included residents returning ahead of the new school year, new residents relocating to Dubai to live and work, and visitors choosing the city for a late-summer break.

Over the summer, customers had more reasons choose Emirates. The airline boosted its flexibility proposition with one free date change anywhere across the network, and unlimited free date changes to Dubai. It also reduced refund fees on Dubai journeys and introduced Comprehensive Travel Cover, a first-of-its-kind policy which includes medical cover protecting against conflict and airspace disruption, backed by airline-managed accommodation, ground support and rebooking where needed.

Fleet upgrades and product investments gather pace

Since January 2026, the airline has welcomed 18 aircraft – 11 new A350s and seven Boeing 777 freighters – with another six A350s scheduled to arrive before the end of December.

To date, 104 aircraft have completed Emirates' retrofit programme, including 53 Boeing 777s and 51 A380s. This brings the number of aircraft offering Premium Economy and Emirates' latest cabin products to 137. By the end of December, that number will have risen to 155 aircraft.

This expanding product footprint gives customers significantly more opportunities to experience Emirates' latest cabins. Premium Economy is now available on services to 90 destinations, with another 6 destinations set to receive the product before end of this year, including Paris, Delhi, Stockholm, and others.

Connectivity is also being upgraded. Close to 50 Emirates aircraft are now fitted with Starlink, with installations progressing alongside the retrofit programme to bring high-speed inflight internet to more customers.

This year, Emirates also launched the innovative U-dream headrests onboard its A350 Economy Class, the industry’s first Premium Economy seat with privacy dividers, and its next generation signature lounges – with new facilities already welcoming guests in Munich, Frankfurt and Manchester.

More destinations, frequencies and connectivity

Emirates' network will continue to expand heading into winter, with new destinations, additional frequencies and more of its latest aircraft deployed across key markets.

Helsinki joins the Emirates network on 1 October, launching with the A350. The aircraft currently serves 30 destinations from Dubai, increasing to 36 by year-end.

Emirates is also adding capacity on several routes to meet demand. Accra, Tokyo Narita, Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi will receive second daily services, while one of the airline's daily Delhi services will be upgraded to an A380.

The Emirates A350 will be deployed to Larnaca, Malta, Nairobi and Hamburg from late October, followed by Mauritius in November. Retrofitted Boeing 777s will be introduced to Stockholm in October and Frankfurt in November, extending Emirates' latest onboard products to more markets.

Beyond its own network, Emirates' 168 codeshare, interline and intermodal partnerships give customers access to an additional 1,750 cities. On an average day, more than 13,000 Emirates customers connect to their destinations on services operated by partner airlines.

The Emirates and flydubai partnership has become one of the defining features of the Dubai hub experience. Today, both carriers provide access to more than 214 unique destinations in over 100 countries, generating more than 4,600 connection opportunities through Dubai.

Emirates customers can reach over 100 flydubai destinations, while flydubai passengers can access more than 140 Emirates destinations. Kathmandu, Zanzibar, Krabi and Belgrade rank among the most popular flydubai destinations for Emirates customers.

Since the partnership launched in 2017, the two airlines have carried more than 28 million passengers across their integrated network.

Alongside Emirates' Helsinki launch in a few weeks, flydubai added Chittagong in Bangladesh in April 2026, Benghazi in Libya in June, followed by Aleppo in Syria and Bangkok (Don Mueang Airport) in July. Further expansion in September includes Pokhara in Nepal.

Open source files for the infographic can be accessed here.

Emirates' new A350 fully electric Premium Economy seat introduces a full-height privacy divider, an industry first. Alongside the newly introduced features, the seat offers preset lounge and meal seating positions, the airline’s industry-first U-Dream leather headrest, wireless charging, USB-C power charging, a 13.3-inch 4K HDR screen, and numerous other touches. The experience is rounded off with a welcome drink, amenity kits, elegant dishes served on Royal Doulton China, accompanied by an extensive speciality beverage list.

The Emirates stand will also offer travel industry visitors a chance to experience the airline’s other signature products including its A380 Shower Spa, A380 Onboard Lounge, Boeing 777 Game Changer First Class Suite, A350 Business Class seat, and A350 Economy Class Seats with the U-Dream headrest.

In addition, the airline is dedicating a part of the stand to highlight some of its community and sustainability initiatives, with glimpses into sustainable vertical farming with Bustanica, projects supported by the Emirates Airline Foundation, Aircrafted by Emirates, conservation efforts in Australia’s Wolgan Valley and the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, Emirates SkyCargo’s wildlife protection initiatives, and Emirates’ community partnerships through its sponsored events, clubs and leagues.

Visitors are encouraged to stop by the Emirates Official Store at the stand for travel accessories, limited-edition merchandise, and collectible aircraft models, including the new 1:200 scale snap-fit range. Replica aircraft, including the Airbus A380, Airbus A350, and Boeing 777, are available in both classic and new tailfin designs, plus iconic special liveries such as Arsenal Champions 2026, UAE Fly The Flag, US Open, and Destination Dubai. Every box is colour-coded by model type and livery, allowing collectors to mix and match across 21 aircraft.

One of the highlights at the Emirates Official Store this year, is the Emirates Signature Series. This is a collection of signed sports jerseys drawn from more than a decade of world-class partnerships including UAE Team Emirates, Real Madrid, AC Milan and Arsenal. Each jersey is authenticated by The Bootroom Collection and presented in a custom box with a certificate of authenticity and security hologram.

The latest Aircrafted by Emirates collection will also be debuting at ATM. Handcrafted from reclaimed leather, the range of duffle bags, vanity pouches and toiletry bags carries the diamond-quilted detailing of the airline's First and Business Class seats. The new collection can be found and purchased at www.emirates.store.

Proceeds from both the Emirates Signature Series and Aircrafted by Emirates support the Emirates Airline Foundation’s humanitarian work, which has transformed the lives of thousands of underprivileged and vulnerable children around the world.

The Emirates stand will also include meeting spaces that can accommodate over 130 visitors and industry partners at any point in time. This year, the airline is planning to seal deals and deepen cooperation with more than 30 partners, including tourism boards, technology companies, and travel organisations that sit at the heart of new B2B & B2C segments, all while creating new visitor opportunities for Dubai and the wider travel ecosystem.

The Emirates stand is located in the Sheikh Saeed Hall at ATM.