Emirates
Flag carrier airline of the United Arab Emirates, operating scheduled passenger and cargo services to over 150 destinations worldwide from its hub in Dubai.
Company Type
public
Founded
1985
Headquarters
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
About Emirates
Who owns Emirates?
Emirates is owned by The Emirates Group, which is in turn owned by the Investment Corporation of Dubai (ICD), the sovereign wealth fund of the Government of Dubai. The airline is not publicly traded. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum serves as Chairman and CEO of The Emirates Group.
Emirates is owned by The Emirates Group, which is in turn owned by the Investment Corporation of Dubai (ICD), the sovereign wealth fund of the Government of Dubai. The airline is not publicly traded. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum serves as Chairman and CEO of The Emirates Group.
Is Emirates publicly traded?
No, Emirates is not publicly traded. The airline is entirely owned by The Emirates Group, which in turn is owned by the Dubai government through the Investment Corporation of Dubai.
No, Emirates is not publicly traded. The airline is entirely owned by The Emirates Group, which in turn is owned by the Dubai government through the Investment Corporation of Dubai.
What was Emirates' revenue in FY2023-24?
In fiscal year 2023-24 (ended March 31, 2024), Emirates reported record revenue of approximately AED 128.7 billion (approximately USD 35 billion) and record profit of approximately AED 19.3 billion (approximately USD 5.2 billion).
In fiscal year 2023-24 (ended March 31, 2024), Emirates reported record revenue of approximately AED 128.7 billion (approximately USD 35 billion) and record profit of approximately AED 19.3 billion (approximately USD 5.2 billion).
When was Emirates founded?
Emirates was founded in March 1985 by the Government of Dubai with seed funding of USD 10 million. The airline began operations on October 25, 1985, with two leased aircraft serving Karachi and Mumbai.
Emirates was founded in March 1985 by the Government of Dubai with seed funding of USD 10 million. The airline began operations on October 25, 1985, with two leased aircraft serving Karachi and Mumbai.
What is Emirates' hub?
Emirates' hub is Dubai International Airport (DXB), one of the world's busiest airports for international passengers. The airport's geographic location, roughly equidistant between Europe and Asia, is central to Emirates' hub-and-spoke strategy.
Emirates' hub is Dubai International Airport (DXB), one of the world's busiest airports for international passengers. The airport's geographic location, roughly equidistant between Europe and Asia, is central to Emirates' hub-and-spoke strategy.
What is dnata?
dnata is the second major division of The Emirates Group, providing ground handling, catering, and travel management services at airports worldwide. dnata operates at more than 120 airports across 35 countries and serves more than 300 airlines.
dnata is the second major division of The Emirates Group, providing ground handling, catering, and travel management services at airports worldwide. dnata operates at more than 120 airports across 35 countries and serves more than 300 airlines.
History of Emirates
Emirates was founded in March 1985 by the Government of Dubai with seed funding of just USD 10 million from the Dubai government. The airline was established to develop Dubai's aviation sector and support the emirate's ambitions as a global business and tourism hub.
The airline's founding was driven by a dispute between Gulf Air (which served Dubai at the time) and the Dubai government over routes and capacity. Rather than continue to rely on Gulf Air, Dubai's ruler Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum decided to establish Dubai's own national airline.
Emirates began operations on October 25, 1985, with two leased aircraft: a Boeing 737 and a Boeing 727. The airline's first routes were to Karachi and Mumbai. Maurice Flanagan, a British aviation executive, was appointed as the airline's first managing director.
Throughout the late 1980s and 1990s, Emirates expanded rapidly, adding new routes across Asia, Europe, and Africa. The airline invested heavily in modern aircraft and premium cabin products, establishing a reputation for quality that differentiated it from other regional carriers.
In 1992, Emirates became one of the first airlines to introduce personal in-flight entertainment screens in all classes, a significant innovation that helped establish the airline's premium service reputation.
Emirates became a launch customer for the Airbus A380 superjumbo in 2000, ordering 58 aircraft. The A380 became central to Emirates' strategy of operating high-capacity aircraft on long-haul routes through its Dubai hub. Emirates eventually became the world's largest operator of the A380, with more than 100 aircraft in its fleet.
The airline's growth was closely linked to Dubai's development as a global business and tourism destination. Dubai International Airport expanded dramatically to accommodate Emirates' growth, and the airline's hub-and-spoke model through Dubai became one of aviation's most successful commercial strategies.
Tim Clark, who joined Emirates in 1985 and became President in 2003, was the architect of Emirates' long-haul hub strategy. Clark identified that Dubai's geographic location, roughly equidistant between Europe and Asia, made it an ideal hub for connecting passengers between the two regions.
Emirates' growth accelerated through the 2000s and 2010s. The airline expanded to more than 150 destinations across six continents, becoming the world's largest international airline by scheduled international passenger-kilometres flown.
The COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted Emirates, which is entirely dependent on international travel. The airline grounded most of its fleet in 2020 and received financial support from the Dubai government. Emirates returned to profitability in fiscal year 2021-22 as international travel recovered.
In fiscal year 2023-24 (ended March 31, 2024), Emirates reported record revenue of approximately AED 128.7 billion (approximately USD 35 billion) and record profit of approximately AED 19.3 billion (approximately USD 5.2 billion), surpassing its previous records.
Brands Owned by Emirates
Emirates owns 0 brands in our database.
Emirates Ownership: Pros & Cons
Advantages
- +Record FY2023-24 revenue of approximately USD 35 billion and profit of approximately USD 5.2 billion demonstrate exceptional financial performance
- +Dubai government ownership provides financial stability and long-term strategic backing without short-term shareholder pressure
- +World's largest international airline by scheduled international passenger-kilometres flown
- +Strategic hub at Dubai International Airport provides unmatched east-west connectivity
- +Modern fleet with one of the youngest average ages among major airlines
Considerations
- -Entirely dependent on international travel, making the airline highly vulnerable to global disruptions (as demonstrated during COVID-19)
- -Allegations of unfair government subsidies from competing airlines in Europe and the United States
- -Dubai's geopolitical position creates occasional diplomatic and operational challenges
- -Competition from other Gulf carriers (Qatar Airways, Etihad) and major international airlines
- -Labor practice concerns related to cabin crew and ground staff working conditions
Frequently Asked Questions About Emirates
Who owns Emirates?
Emirates is owned by The Emirates Group, which is in turn owned by the Investment Corporation of Dubai (ICD), the sovereign wealth fund of the Government of Dubai. The airline is not publicly traded. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum serves as Chairman and CEO of The Emirates Group.
Is Emirates publicly traded?
No, Emirates is not publicly traded. The airline is entirely owned by The Emirates Group, which in turn is owned by the Dubai government through the Investment Corporation of Dubai.
What was Emirates' revenue in FY2023-24?
In fiscal year 2023-24 (ended March 31, 2024), Emirates reported record revenue of approximately AED 128.7 billion (approximately USD 35 billion) and record profit of approximately AED 19.3 billion (approximately USD 5.2 billion).
When was Emirates founded?
Emirates was founded in March 1985 by the Government of Dubai with seed funding of USD 10 million. The airline began operations on October 25, 1985, with two leased aircraft serving Karachi and Mumbai.
What is Emirates' hub?
Emirates' hub is Dubai International Airport (DXB), one of the world's busiest airports for international passengers. The airport's geographic location, roughly equidistant between Europe and Asia, is central to Emirates' hub-and-spoke strategy.
What is dnata?
dnata is the second major division of The Emirates Group, providing ground handling, catering, and travel management services at airports worldwide. dnata operates at more than 120 airports across 35 countries and serves more than 300 airlines.
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