Emirates Emerges World’s Most Profitable Airline with Record $6.6bn Group Profit
The Emirates Group has announced record-breaking financial results for the 2025-26 fiscal year, with Emirates retaining its position as the world’s most profitable airline despite major regional disruptions late in the reporting period.
The Group posted a record profit before tax of AED 24.4 billion (US$6.6 billion), up 7% year-over-year, alongside record revenue of AED 150.5 billion (US$41 billion) and record cash assets of AED 59.6 billion (US$16.2 billion).
His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates airline and Group said: “These outstanding results, despite significant challenges in the last month of our financial year, reaffirm the strength and resilience of the Emirates Group’s business model, which is rooted in safety, excellence, innovation, people and partnerships.
“For the first 11 months of 2025-26, the picture across the Group was very positive. Strong demand for our products and services was driving revenue, and we were achieving healthy margins thanks to our sustained investments in product, people, technology and brand. Month after month, we were surpassing our targets.
“On 28 February, military activity massively disrupted global commercial air traffic in Gulf region, including in the UAE. Emirates and dnata quickly mobilised to support our people and affected customers, protect our assets, and ensure business continuity.”
HH Sheikh Ahmed added: “The Emirates Group has navigated crises and disruptions before. Each time, we placed our focus on our customers and our people, and each time, we have bounced back stronger.
“Our people are a big part of our success, enabling us to respond with agility in a dynamic operating environment. I’d like to thank all our employees – they have truly exemplified the qualities that set the Emirates Group apart during testing times.
In 2025-26, the Group collectively invested AED 17.9 billion (US$ 4.9 billion) in new aircraft, facilities, equipment, and the latest technologies to support its growth plans.
The Group’s total workforce grew by 8% to 130,919 employees, as Emirates and dnata continued recruitment activity around the world to support its expanding operations and boost its future capabilities.
The Group’s UAE national workforce also grew to surpass 4,000, showing the success of its programmes to attract, grow and retain local talent.
“From a fuel perspective, Emirates is well-hedged until 2028-29; and we have worked with our suppliers to secure the volumes required to support our current operations and our scaling up to pre-disruption levels.
At dnata and across the Group, our business streams, scale, portfolio mix, and years of investments give us the resilience and agility to address any near-term challenges.
“Our fundamentals are strong. The Emirates Group’s proven business model is unchanged. Dubai’s place at the nexus of global commerce, trade and travel flows is unchanged. Our ambition to be the best in the world, and to be of service to the world, is unchanged.”
During the year, Emirates’ global network spanned 152 cities in 80 countries. Emirates also grew its partnerships to 32 codeshare and 117 interline partners, providing customers smooth access to over 1,700 cities beyond its network.
At the 2025 Dubai Airshow, Emirates announced further fleet investments worth US$ 41.4 billion at list prices – for 65 more Boeing 777-9s and 8 more A350-900 aircraft.
At 31 March, Emirates’ order book had 367 aircraft, comprising of: 54 A350s, 270 Boeing 777x, 35 787s, and 8 777Fs, with deliveries scheduled through to 2038.
Emirates carried 53.2 million passengers (down 1%) in 2025-26, with seat capacity down by 1%. The airline reports a Passenger Seat Factor of 78.4%, a marginal decline from 78.9% last year.
Passenger yield was higher by 4% at 38.1 fils (10.4 US cents) per Revenue Passenger Kilometre (RPKM).
Emirates launched a new “Accessible and Inclusive Travel Hub” on emirates.com to help travellers with varying accessibility requirements plan their journey.
It also introduced new onboard sensory products and fidget toys for children and adults, and organised “travel rehearsals” at dozens of airports around the world to help ease travel anxiety for children with autism and their families.
Emirates SkyCargo also delivered an outstanding year, carrying 2.4 million tonnes of goods around the world, up 3% from the previous year.
Emirates continued to deploy simple forward contracts to hedge against Brent crude oil and refining margins; and used long-term interest rate hedges to mitigate the impact of interest rate fluctuations.
Emirates subsidiary, dnata’s total revenue increased by 12% to hit a new record of AED 23.6 billion (US$ 6.4 billion), driven by increased flight and travel activity across the world, particularly in its major markets: Australia, Europe, the UAE, UK, and US.
The Emirates Airline Foundation continuing its work with social entrepreneurs and NGOs to provide disadvantaged children with education, shelter, food and medical services. This year, the Foundation supported 13 active projects around the world and provided over 500 flight tickets for medical missions.
