Emirates Group posts record $6.6b profit despite regional tensions

The Emirates Group has reported record financial results for the 2025-26 fiscal year, posting its highest-ever profit, revenue and cash reserves despite geopolitical tensions and operational challenges in the final month of the reporting period.

In a statement released today (7 May), the Dubai-based aviation giant said the Group recorded a pre-tax profit of $6.6 billion for the fiscal year ending 31 March 2026, marking a 7% increase from the previous year.

Group revenue rose 3% year-on-year to a record $41 billion, while cash assets climbed 12% to an all-time high of $16.2 billion. EBITDA reached $11.2 billion, reflecting strong operational performance across its aviation and travel businesses.

During the year, the group invested $4.9 billion in new aircraft, facilities, equipment and advanced technologies to support future expansion. It also declared a dividend of $1 billion to its owner, the Investment Corporation of Dubai.

Emirates Airlines retained its position as the world's most profitable airline, reporting a record pre-tax profit of $6.2 billion, up 7% from the previous year. Airline revenue increased 2% to $35.7 billion, while cash reserves stood at $15 billion.

Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chairman and chief executive of 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," he said.

"Our fundamentals are strong. The Emirates Group's proven business model is unchanged. Dubai is a place at the nexus of global commerce, trade and travel flows, which is unchanged. Our ambition to be the best in the world, and to be of service to the world, is unchanged," he added.

During the fiscal year, Emirates expanded its global network to 152 destinations across 80 countries through 32 codeshare and 117 interline partnerships, providing connectivity to more than 1,700 cities worldwide.

The airline carried 53.2 million passengers during the year, while Emirates SkyCargo transported 2.4 million tonnes of cargo and generated $4.4 billion in revenue.

Meanwhile, dnata, the group's air and travel services subsidiary, posted a 2% rise in pre-tax profit to $437 million, with revenue reaching a record $6.4 billion.

The Emirates Group's global workforce also expanded by 8% to 130,919 employees as Emirates and dnata continued recruitment and operational growth worldwide.