The Emirates Group has reported a record-breaking profit of AED 24.4 billion (US$ 6.6 billion) for the financial year ending March 31, 2026, cementing its position as one of the world’s strongest aviation giants despite facing major operational challenges in the final month of the year.
According to the Group’s 2025-26 Annual Report released on Thursday, Emirates also retained its title as the world’s most profitable airline, delivering exceptional financial performance across all key indicators including profit, revenue, and cash reserves.
The Group’s profit before tax (PBT) rose by 7 percent compared to last year, reaching AED 24.4 billion, while revenue climbed to a record AED 150.5 billion (US$ 41 billion), marking a 3 percent increase year-on-year. Cash assets also hit an all-time high of AED 59.6 billion (US$ 16.2 billion), up 12 percent, reflecting the company’s strong financial stability and operational strength.
Its EBITDA stood at AED 41.1 billion (US$ 11.2 billion), further highlighting the Group’s robust profitability.
At the airline level, Emirates alone posted a record PBT of AED 22.8 billion (US$ 6.2 billion), also up 7 percent from the previous year, with an impressive profit margin of 17.4 percent. Revenue rose to AED 130.9 billion (US$ 35.7 billion), while cash assets reached their highest-ever level of AED 54.9 billion (US$ 15 billion).
This performance ensured Emirates maintained its status as the world’s most profitable airline during the 2025-26 reporting period.
Meanwhile, dnata, the Group’s global air and travel services provider, also delivered strong growth across all business segments. It reported a record PBT of AED 1.6 billion (US$ 437 million), up 2 percent, while revenue surged 12 percent to AED 23.6 billion (US$ 6.4 billion). Its cash assets rose sharply by 28 percent to AED 4.7 billion (US$ 1.3 billion).
Reflecting its strong performance, the Emirates Group announced a dividend of AED 3.5 billion (US$ 1 billion) to its owner, the Investment Corporation of Dubai (ICD).
This year also marked a significant tax shift for the Group, as the UAE corporate tax rate applied to Emirates increased from 9 percent to 15 percent following the adoption of Pillar Two global tax rules. Even after accounting for the higher tax burden, the Group posted a profit after tax of AED 21 billion (US$ 5.7 billion), representing a 3 percent increase over the previous financial year.
Commenting on the results, His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates airline and Group, said the record figures demonstrated the resilience and strength of the Emirates business model.
“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.
He added that for the first 11 months of 2025-26, the Group had witnessed exceptionally strong demand across its businesses, supported by continued investments in products, people, technology, and brand value.
“Month after month, we were surpassing our targets,” Sheikh Ahmed said, emphasizing that sustained investment and customer confidence had been key drivers behind the Group’s record success.
The latest results underline Emirates’ growing dominance in global aviation, proving that even amid disruptions and global uncertainty, the Dubai-based carrier continues to set new industry benchmarks.
