Emirates remains world’s most profitable airline
Emirates Group has reported record results for the 2025–26 financial year, posting its highest-ever profit, revenue, and cash reserves, despite headwinds in the final month of the period.
The fiscal year ran from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026.
The group, comprising Emirates airline, dnata, and other subsidiaries, posted a pre-tax profit of $6.6 billion, a 7% increase year-on-year.
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Revenue rose 3% to a record $41 billion, while cash assets climbed 12% to $16.2 billion.
EBITDA reached $11.2 billion, underlining robust operational performance.
During the year, the group invested $4.9 billion in new aircraft, facilities, equipment, and advanced technologies to drive future growth.
A dividend of $1 billion was declared to the group's owner, the Investment Corporation of Dubai.
Emirates airline retained its position as the world's most profitable carrier, posting a record pre-tax profit of $6.2 billion, up 7% year-on-year.
Revenue for the airline rose 2% to $35.7 billion, while cash assets totalled $15 billion.
"These outstanding results, despite significant challenges in the last month, reaffirm the strength and resilience of the Emirates Group's business model, which is founded on safety, excellence, innovation, people, and partnerships," said Emirates airline and Group Chairman and Chief Executive Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum.
"Our fundamentals remain strong. The Emirates Group's proven business model is unchanged. Dubai's position at the nexus of global commerce, trade, and travel is unchanged. Our ambition to be the best, and to serve the world, remains unchanged," he added.
During the year, Emirates expanded its global network to 152 cities in 80 countries.
The airline's network was supported by 32 codeshare and 117 interline partnerships, delivering connectivity to over 1,700 cities worldwide.
Emirates carried 53.2 million passengers in 2025–26.
Emirates SkyCargo, the airline's cargo division, moved 2.4 million tonnes of freight and generated $4.4 billion in revenue.
Meanwhile, dnata posted a 2% rise in pre-tax profit to $437 million, as revenue reached a record $6.4 billion.
The group's workforce increased 8% to 130,919 employees globally, as Emirates and dnata expanded operations and recruitment worldwide.
The full annual report is available on the Emirates Group website.
