Emirates Group posts record $6.6b annual profit
Its profit rose 7% year-on-year for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2026, driven by strong global travel demand, cargo growth and network expansion
ATT Correspondent 
The Emirates Group has reported its strongest financial performance to date, posting a record pre-tax profit of $6.6 billion for the 2025-26 financial year despite geopolitical tensions and operational challenges in the final weeks of the reporting period.
In a statement, the Dubai-based aviation group said profit rose 7% year-on-year for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2026, driven by strong global travel demand, cargo growth and network expansion.
Group revenue increased 3% to a record $41 billion, while cash reserves rose 12% to an all-time high of $16.2 billion. EBITDA reached $11.2 billion, reflecting strong operational performance across the Group’s aviation and travel businesses.
Emirates retained its position as the world’s most profitable airline, recording a pre-tax profit of $6.2 billion, also up 7% from the previous year. The airline’s revenue rose to $35.7 billion, while cash assets stood at $15 billion.
During the year, the Group invested $4.9 billion in aircraft, infrastructure, advanced technology and operational expansion to support long-term growth. It also announced a $1 billion dividend payment to its owner, the Investment Corporation of Dubai.
Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum said the results reflected the resilience of Emirates’ business model despite growing geopolitical uncertainty and operational pressures.
“These outstanding results reaffirm the strength and resilience of the Emirates Group’s business model, rooted in safety, excellence, innovation, people and partnerships,” he said.
During the financial year, Emirates expanded its network to 152 destinations across 80 countries through codeshare and interline partnerships, providing access 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 aviation services subsidiary, reported a 2% rise in pre-tax profit to $437 million, with revenue reaching a record $6.4 billion.
The Group’s global workforce also grew by 8% to more than 130,000 employees as Emirates and dnata continued recruitment and expanded international operations.
