The Emirates Group has reported a net profit of USD 3.8 billion for its financial year ending 31 March 2026 — a 31 percent increase on the prior year’s USD 2.9 billion — driven by record passenger volumes on Emirates airline and robust cargo revenue at its ground handling subsidiary, dnata. The results confirm the group as one of the world’s most profitable aviation businesses and the anchor of Dubai’s knowledge economy.
Revenue Breakdown and Key Metrics
Total group revenue reached USD 38.4 billion in FY2025-26, up from USD 34.2 billion in the prior year. Emirates airline contributed USD 30.1 billion, accounting for 78 percent of group revenue, while dnata generated USD 6.8 billion across its airport services, travel, and catering divisions in 120 cities worldwide.
Passenger numbers on Emirates airline reached a record 62.4 million for the financial year, with an average seat load factor of 83.4 percent. The airline currently operates to 142 destinations across 74 countries, using a fleet of 270 wide-body aircraft — all Airbus A380s and Boeing 777s. Emirates has 75 additional aircraft on firm order, including the next-generation Boeing 777X, with first deliveries expected in mid-2026.
Cargo and Logistics Performance
Emirates SkyCargo transported 2.8 million tonnes of freight during FY2025-26, a 9 percent year-on-year increase driven by strong demand from the pharmaceutical, perishables, and e-commerce verticals. Dubai’s strategic position between Asian manufacturing hubs and European consumer markets continues to make Emirates SkyCargo one of the world’s top three air freight carriers by volume.
The cargo division also expanded its dedicated freighter fleet with the addition of three Boeing 777F aircraft converted from passenger service. Emirates SkyCargo operates 11 dedicated freighters, supplemented by belly capacity on the airline’s full passenger schedule.
Investment in Fleet, Lounges, and Digital Services
The Emirates Group committed USD 4.1 billion in capital expenditure during the financial year, covering cabin retrofits on 120 aircraft, an expanded Business Class lounge at Dubai International Terminal 3, and a complete rebuild of the Emirates app and digital check-in infrastructure. The airline’s premium class revenues — First and Business Class combined — grew by 21 percent to USD 9.6 billion, representing 32 percent of airline passenger revenue.
For corporate travel managers in the GCC, Emirates’ enhanced corporate account programme, Emirates BusinessConnect, now includes dynamic fare booking, centralised invoicing across subsidiaries, and a dedicated account management team for companies with annual travel spend above AED 500,000. The programme has enrolled over 4,200 GCC-based corporate accounts.
Outlook for FY2026-27
Emirates Group Chairman Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum described the FY2025-26 results as “a reflection of Dubai’s enduring appeal as a global connectivity hub” and indicated that the airline would add nine new destinations during the 2026 northern hemisphere summer schedule, including direct services to three African capitals and two South American cities.
The group’s cash position stands at a healthy USD 9.2 billion, providing ample liquidity for the ongoing fleet expansion and the proposed USD 2.1 billion investment in Dubai International Airport’s new Concourse D, which is expected to handle an additional 12 million passengers annually upon completion in 2028.
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