Post by : Bianca
Haleem
The Emirates Group has unveiled remarkable financial outcomes for the 2025-26 fiscal year, achieving a record profit, revenue, and cash reserves in spite of significant disruptions affecting the Gulf region during the final month of the reporting period.
As of March 31, 2026, the Dubai-based aviation giant noted a record profit before tax of AED 24.4 billion (approximately US$ 6.6 billion), reflecting a 7% increase compared to the previous year. Group revenue soared to AED 150.5 billion (around US$ 41 billion), a 3% rise year-on-year.
The Group's cash reserves grew by 12%, reaching AED 59.6 billion (about US$ 16.2 billion), while EBITDA was recorded at AED 41.1 billion (around US$ 11.2 billion), underscoring strong operational results.
After factoring in the UAE’s increased corporate tax rate of 15% initiated under the Pillar Two tax regulations, the Emirates Group declared a profit after tax of AED 21 billion (roughly US$ 5.7 billion), marking a 3% rise from the prior year.
Emirates Crowned as World’s Leading Airline in Profitability
During the 2025-26 reporting period, Emirates airline upheld its status as the world’s most profitable airline.
The airline achieved a pre-tax profit of AED 22.8 billion (approximately US$ 6.2 billion), representing a 7% growth, alongside a robust profit margin of 17.4%.
Revenue climbed 2% to AED 130.9 billion (about US$ 35.7 billion), with cash reserves hitting an all-time high of AED 54.9 billion (approximately US$ 15 billion).
Emirates managed to transport 53.2 million passengers during the year with a passenger seat factor of 78.4%. The increase in passenger yield by 4% was attributed to high travel demand and exceptional services.
The airline’s cargo sector, Emirates SkyCargo, moved 2.4 million tonnes of cargo, a 3% increase from last year, generating AED 16.2 billion in revenue.
Regional Tensions Affecting Operations
Chairman and CEO HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum stated that these outstanding results were achieved despite military emergencies in the Gulf during February 2026 that caused disruptions to global air traffic.
He mentioned that Emirates and dnata swiftly adapted to safeguard passengers, optimize operations, and reinstate services at Dubai International Airport. Although passenger capacity has not yet returned to pre-disruption levels, cargo operations have ramped up significantly to facilitate essential goods transit.
Sheikh Ahmed highlighted that the Group’s resilient business framework, HVAC investments in infrastructure, technology, customer relations, and workforce were crucial to overcoming these challenges.
Significant Investments and Fleet Growth
Throughout 2025-26, the Emirates Group allocated AED 17.9 billion (approximately US$ 4.9 billion) for aircraft, technology, facilities, and equipment aimed at supporting future progress.
Emirates added 15 Airbus A350 planes to its collection and initiated services to four new destinations, namely Da Nang, Shenzhen, Hangzhou, and Siem Reap.
By March 2026, Emirates operated flights to 152 cities over 80 countries, broadening its collaborations to encompass over 1,700 cities globally.
At the Dubai Airshow 2025, Emirates revealed aircraft orders valued at US$ 41.4 billion, which included 65 Boeing 777-9 aircraft and eight additional Airbus A350-900 jets.
The airline’s total fleet reached 277 aircraft, with an average age of 10.8 years.
dnata’s Strong Performance
dnata also showcased impressive growth across its divisions.
The aviation and travel services entity recorded a remarkable pre-tax profit of AED 1.6 billion (around US$ 437 million), signifying a 2% rise from the prior year.
Revenue surged 12% to AED 23.6 billion (approximately US$ 6.4 billion), with cash assets increasing by 28% to AED 4.7 billion (around US$ 1.3 billion).
dnata managed nearly 889,000 aircraft movements globally while processing 3.2 million tonnes of cargo throughout the year.
The company also broadened its operations through investments in airport functionalities, catering services, and cargo frameworks in nations like Australia, the Netherlands, and Italy.
Future Outlook and Workforce Expansion
The workforce of the Emirates Group surged by 8%, totaling 130,919 employees worldwide. The number of UAE national employees exceeded 4,000 in the year under review.
Looking ahead, Sheikh Ahmed reassured stakeholders of the Group’s financial stability, despite persistent geopolitical uncertainties in the Middle East.
He confirmed that Emirates is well-protected against fluctuations in fuel prices until 2028-29, with ongoing focuses on aircraft acquisitions, retrofit initiatives, customer experiences, and operational growth.
The Group also declared a dividend distribution of AED 3.5 billion (approximately US$ 1 billion) to its owner, the Investment Corporation of Dubai.
Commitment to Sustainability and Community Efforts
The Emirates Group sustained its commitment to sustainability initiatives over 2025-26, investing in research for sustainable aviation fuel, electric vehicles for ground operations, and waste management programs.
Additionally, the Group continued its support for various community and charitable efforts worldwide, focusing on education, medical missions, youth sports programs, and food donation initiatives.
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