The Emirates Group achieves record half-term profits for the fiscal year 2025-2026

The Emirates Group announced today that it achieved record financial results for the first half of the fiscal year 2025-2026, from April 1 to September 30, 2025, as it recorded pre-tax profits of 12.2 billion dirhams ($3.3 billion) for the first six months of the fiscal year, making it the fourth year in a row in which the group achieved record half-term profits.

After calculating income tax charges, the group’s net profit after tax amounted to AED 10.6 billion ($2.9 billion).

The group recorded earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization of 21.1 billion dirhams ($5.7 billion), a growth of 3% over the same period last year, which recorded 20.4 billion dirhams ($5.6 billion), which reflects the strength of operational profitability.

The group achieved revenues amounting to 75.4 billion dirhams ($20.6 billion) during the first six months of the fiscal year 2025-2026, a growth of 4% compared to 70.8 billion dirhams ($19.3 billion) for the same period last year.

The group ended the first half of the fiscal year 2025-2026 in a record cash position, with its balances reaching 56.0 billion dirhams ($15.2 billion) as of September 30, 2025, compared to 53.4 billion dirhams ($14.6 billion) as of March 31, 2025. The group was able to benefit from its strong cash reserves to support business needs, including paying installments for new aircraft orders and paying installments for new aircraft orders. Other debts.

The group also paid the remaining 2 billion dirhams ($545 million) of the owners’ share, amounting to 6 billion dirhams ($1.6 billion), as announced at the end of the 2024-2025 fiscal year.

His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, said: “The Emirates Group continues its outstanding performance with consistency and confidence, achieving record half-year financial results for the fiscal year 2025-2026, reaffirming the strength of its business model and its ability to achieve sustainable growth year after year, while the results of the first half reaffirm Emirates’ global leadership and consolidate its position as the most profitable air carrier in the world, thanks to the efficiency of its operations, the strength of its brand, and growing confidence. “its clients.”

His Highness added: “This exceptional performance is attributed to the strong and continuous demand for travel, and the growing customer confidence in our services and products, which has reflected positively on the growth of revenues and profitability.”

His Highness continued: “Emirates Airlines and dnata have invested billions of dirhams to enhance operational efficiency, expand their capabilities through innovation and technology, and ensure the well-being of our employees, who represent the cornerstone of our success and the sustainability of our performance. These commitments form the core of our corporate culture, and are what enable us to maintain our competitiveness in a rapidly changing market.”

His Highness added: “This strong performance gives us the necessary momentum to continue investing in the future with confidence, and to expand the scope of our operations in parallel with Dubai’s aspirations to consolidate its position as a leading global city for business, tourism and innovation.”

His Highness concluded: “Despite the geopolitical events and economic challenges in some markets, global demand for air transport and travel services has been strong. We expect demand to remain strong for the rest of the year 2025-2026, and we look forward to increasing our capacity for revenue growth, especially with the addition of the new A350 aircraft to the Emirates fleet, and the operation of the new dnata facilities.”

To keep pace with the expansion of operations and commercial activities, the Emirates Group’s employee base, compared to March 31, 2025, has grown by 3%, bringing the total number of employees to 124,927 employees as of September 30, 2025. Emirates and dnata continue to organize recruitment campaigns to support future requirements.

Emirates Airlines

Emirates Airlines continued to enhance its network of destinations and connectivity options through its hub in Dubai. During the first half of the 2025-2026 fiscal year, the carrier launched new services to Da Nang in Vietnam, Siem Reap in Cambodia, and Shenzhen and Hangzhou in China. By September 30, 2025, Emirates’ passenger and cargo network extended to 153 airports in 81 countries and territories. The network was strengthened by adding an additional 28 weekly flights to: Antananarivo, Johannesburg, Muscat, Rome, Riyadh and Taipei. To provide more connectivity options to customers, during the first six months of 2025-2026, Emirates entered codeshare and interline partnership agreements with Air Seychelles, Condor and Orini.

Between April 1 and September 30, Emirates took delivery of five new Airbus A350 aircraft, adding more Business Class and Premium Economy Class seats to its fleet. During the same period, 23 aircraft (6 Airbus A380s and 17 Boeing 777s) were fully modernized as part of its $5 billion aircraft modernization programme, allowing the airline to offer its latest cabin products to more markets, including Premium Economy Class. By September 30, Premium Economy Class became available to customers traveling between Dubai and 61 cities around the world.

The carrier also opened a check-in lounge for first class customers at Dubai International Airport, providing first class customers and Platinum members of the Emirates Skywards program with a luxurious private area and an exceptional experience. During the first half of the financial year 2025-2026, Emirates accelerated the implementation of its store strategy by opening travel stores in Accra, Bangkok, Geneva, Jakarta, Mauritius, Osaka, Seoul and Singapore.

Emirates Airlines continued its progress in its environmental initiatives, by promoting the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) wherever available and possible, at 37 airports. In April, Emirates joined the Aviation Circular Economy Coalition, a network of organizations committed to building a circular economy for aviation and creating new pathways to accelerate carbon reduction through the high-value circular economy in the global supply chain.

During the first half of the fiscal year 2025-2026, Emirates Airlines invested significantly to strengthen its global brand presence, as it signed multi-year sponsorship deals to become a platinum partner of the German club Bayern Munich, an official sponsor of the Real Madrid basketball team, and the distinguished partner and official carrier of the Investec Cup and Challenge Cup tournaments of the European Union of Professional Rugby Clubs. It also extended its partnership with the Association of Tennis Professionals Tour as the main partner and official carrier of the association until the year 2030, in addition to sponsoring the Olympique Lyonnais shirt until 2030.

The total capacity during the first six months of the fiscal year increased by 5% to reach 31.3 billion available ton-kilometres, due to the expansion of flight operations. Passenger capacity, measured by the number of available seats multiplied by the number of kilometers traveled, also increased by 5%, while passenger traffic, measured by revenue per passenger per kilometer, increased by 4%, with a seat suitability rate of 79.5%, compared to 80.0% during the same period last year. Emirates Airlines transported 27.8 million passengers between April 1 and September 30, 2025, a growth of 4% over the same period of the previous year.

Emirates Sky Cargo transported 1.25 million tons in the first six months of the fiscal year, a growth of 4% compared to the same period of the previous fiscal year. It continued customer demand for specialized cargo products and its distinguished network of passenger and freighter cargo operations. However, the average return on air freight declined by 6% as a result of declining demand in some market segments amid concerns related to tariffs.

Emirates SkyCargo also received three Boeing 777 freighter aircraft. In April, the carrier launched the “Emirates Express Cargo Service”, an innovative product that relies on the strength of the carrier’s global network to provide express door-to-door shipping services specifically for businesses.

Consolidating its position as the most profitable air carrier in the world for the semi-annual results, Emirates Airlines achieved record pre-tax profits for the first half of 2025-2026 amounting to 11.4 billion dirhams ($3.1 billion), compared to 9.7 billion dirhams ($2.6 billion) for the same period last year. Emirates Airlines’ profits after tax amounted to 9.9 billion dirhams ($2.7 billion).

Emirates Airlines’ revenues, including other operating income, recorded 65.6 billion dirhams ($17.9 billion), a growth of 6% compared to 62.2 billion dirhams ($16.9 billion) for the same period last year. He attributes this record revenue growth to continued strong demand for travel across various markets, and customer preference for Emirates products and services, especially in premium cabins.

Emirates’ direct operating costs (including fuel) increased by 4% in line with the expansion of operations, and fuel remained the largest component of the carrier’s operating cost at 30%.

Thanks to customer demand and the expansion of operations during the six months, EBITDA remained very strong, recording 19.7 billion dirhams ($5.4 billion), a growth of 3% compared to 19.1 billion dirhams ($5.2 billion) for the same period last year.

Emirates Flight Catering achieved a growth in revenues from external customers by 13%, reaching 555 million dirhams ($151 million), as it provided 7.7 million meals (a growth of 2%) to 116 air carriers during this period.

Emirates Entertainment and Retail Company also acquired the remaining 25% stake in Air Ventures LLC in the United States, securing full ownership of the entity that operates retail outlets and restaurants at airports.

dnata

dnata recorded strong growth during the first half of the financial year 2025-2026, driven by strengthening its operations in the shipping, ground handling, catering, retail and travel services sectors.

In the first half of the 2025-2026 financial year, dnata Catering and Airport Services won several important new contracts, and grew its existing customer base across its international operations. This confirms dnata’s ability to meet the diverse requirements of its airline customers with high safety standards and high-quality products and services.

dnata also continued its strategic investments in its business in response to customer needs and capitalizing on market prospects. It has announced plans to deploy 800 new units of ground support equipment (GSE) across its global network in 2025, with an investment of $110 million to enhance operational performance and provide equipment with lower carbon emissions to support dnata’s growth and sustainability goals.

Among the most notable achievements that dnata achieved during the first half of the fiscal year 2025-2026 was the launch of its airport hospitality brand, “Marhaba,” in the United Kingdom. A €3 million minority stake investment in advanced booking platform WonderMiles to strengthen dnata Travel’s offering in the corporate sector; And disposing of its 75% stake in Super Bus Company, which operates tourist trips in the Emirates.

dnata also entered into its first major sports sponsorship partnership, signing a three-year agreement with Dubai Basketball Club to become a founding partner of the first Emirati professional basketball team based in Dubai.

Dnata recorded a new record performance in terms of revenues during the first half of the financial year, exceeding the $3 billion barrier for the first time during this period. Dnata’s revenues, including income from other operations, increased by 13% to record 11.7 billion dirhams ($3.2 billion), compared to 10.4 billion dirhams ($2.8 billion) during the same period of the last fiscal year.

Dnata’s total profits before tax amounted to 843 million dirhams ($230 million), a growth of 17% compared to the same period of the previous fiscal year, and dnata’s profits after tax amounted to 697 million dirhams ($190 million).

Dnata showed its operating profitability, as its earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization amounted to 1.4 billion dirhams ($372 million), a growth of 5% compared to 1.3 billion dirhams ($354 million) in the first six months of the last financial year.

Dnata Airport Operations maintained its position as the largest contributor to dnata’s revenues, as this contribution amounted to 5.5 billion dirhams ($1.5 billion), a growth of 15% over the revenues of the first six months of the last fiscal year, thanks to the continued growth in customer demand, especially in Italy, Australia, the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates. The number of aircraft cycles for which dnata provided handling services at all its operating sites also increased by 15% to 450,903 operational cycles, driven by the launch of its operations at Rome Airport. The cargo it handled recorded 1.59 million tons, an increase of 3% over the same period last year, thanks to the strong demand for cargo services and its operations in the UAE.

The contribution of dnata’s aircraft catering and retail operations to total revenues amounted to 4.1 billion dirhams ($1.1 billion), a growth of 11%, supported by increased production in both Australia and the United Kingdom to meet customer demand, in addition to the growth of its products in the retail sector as part of its strategy, in addition to the positive impact of amending contracts to cover the rise in supply costs. The total number of meals served decreased slightly by 1% to 60.0 million meals compared to the same period in the previous fiscal year.

Dnata’s travel division contributed 2.0 billion dirhams ($538 million) in revenue, a growth of 11% compared to 1.8 billion dirhams ($483 million) in the same period of the last fiscal year. The division recorded sales with a basic total value of TTV transactions amounting to 5.0 billion dirhams ($1.4 billion), a growth of 9%, compared to 4.5 billion dirhams ($1.2 billion) in the period. Same as last fiscal year.