Emirates Airline contributed the lion’s share of profits, reporting a record pre-tax profit of AED 11.4 billion (US$ 3.1 billion) — up from AED 9.7 billion last year.
Post-tax profit stood at AED 9.9 billion (US$ 2.7 billion), a 13% increase year-on-year. Revenue climbed 6% to AED 65.6 billion (US$ 17.9 billion), driven by robust travel demand and premium cabin sales.
Between April and September 2025, Emirates carried 27.8 million passengers, a 4% rise compared to last year, maintaining a healthy 79.5% seat factor. Cargo volumes also improved, with 1.25 million tonnes transported, though yields declined by 6% amid softer demand in some markets.
The airline expanded its global footprint, launching new services to Danang, Siem Reap, Shenzhen, and Hangzhou, bringing its network to 153 destinations in 81 countries. It also added 28 new weekly flights to key cities including Johannesburg, Riyadh, and Rome.
Emirates received five new Airbus A350s and rolled out 23 refurbished aircraft under its US$ 5 billion retrofit programme. The upgrades included the rollout of its acclaimed Premium Economy product on routes to 61 cities.
On the ground, Emirates unveiled “Emirates First,” a luxury private check-in experience at Dubai International Airport, and opened new retail concept stores in major cities across Asia, Europe, and Africa.
Sustainability remained central to Emirates’ strategy. The airline expanded its use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) to 37 airports and joined the Aviation Circularity Consortium to support circular economy practices in aviation.
To bolster brand visibility, Emirates signed multi-year sponsorship deals with FC Bayern Munich, Real Madrid Basketball, and European Professional Club Rugby, while extending its ATP Tour partnership and Olympique Lyonnais shirt sponsorship until 2030.
Revenue surpasses $3.2 billion
Emirates Group’s ground handling and travel services arm, dnata, delivered strong growth, achieving record revenue of AED 11.7 billion (US$ 3.2 billion) — a 13% increase over last year. Profit before tax reached AED 843 million (US$ 230 million), while post-tax profit rose 22% to AED 697 million (US$ 190 million).
dnata’s airport operations remained the largest revenue driver at AED 5.5 billion (US$ 1.5 billion), supported by rising flight activity in Italy, Australia, the UK, and the UAE. It handled 450,903 aircraft turns (up 15%) and 1.59 million tonnes of cargo (up 3%) during the period.
Its flight catering and retail division generated AED 4.1 billion (US$ 1.1 billion), reflecting steady meal production and an expanding retail business. The travel division contributed AED 2 billion (US$ 538 million), up 11% from last year, with total transactional value reaching AED 5 billion.
dnata also announced major strategic investments, including the purchase of 800 new low-emission ground support vehicles, a €3 million stake in the NDC booking platform WonderMiles, and a new hospitality brand launch in the UK under “marhaba.”
The company also entered its first sports sponsorship, becoming a Founding Partner of Dubai Basketball.
Outlook
As Emirates Group continues to scale up its operations, Sheikh Ahmed said the company’s financial resilience enables sustained investment in people, technology, and sustainability:
“Our profitability allows us to keep enhancing our products and services, support Dubai’s growth, and remain at the forefront of global aviation.”
With a strong balance sheet, record cash reserves, and expanding fleet, the Group is poised for continued growth in the second half of the 2025–26 financial year.