The Emirates Group, which operates the world’s largest airline Emirates and its ground handling and ticketing arm Dnata, reported a 7 percent growth to record $6.6 billion (Dh24.4 billion) profit before tax in its 2025-26 financial year ending March 31, 2026, despite a disruption of flight operations during the US-led attach on Iran and its fall-out on the regional aviation industry from February 28, 2026.
With this, Emirates has emerged as the world’s most profitable airline in the 2025-26 reporting period and starts its current financial year with record cash assets of $16.2 billion (Dh59.6 billion) – enough to manage growth and expansion as well as face any headwinds.
The UAE corporate tax rate applied to the Emirates Group increased from 9 per cent to 15 per cent this year, due to the adoption of Pillar Two tax rules in the UAE. After accounting for the tax charge, the Group’s profit after tax is Dh21.0 billion (US$5.7 billion), up 3 percent from 2024-25.
The group reported record revenue of $41 billion (Dh150.5 billion), up 3 per cent over last year’s results. It has declared a dividend of $1 billion (Dh3.5 billion) to its owner, the Investment Corporation of Dubai (ICD), an investment arm of Dubai Government.
The Dubai Government-owned Emirates Group also reported a whopping record cash asset $16.2 billion (Dh59.6 billion) at the end of March 31, 2026, which is up 12 percent compared to the previous financial year. This will help Emirates Group to navigate out of any future challenges and maintain its investment in growth and new-generation aircraft acquisition programme.
Emirates Group is the largest contributor to the Dubai economy. The Group reported Earnings before Interest, Tax, Debt and Amortisation (EBITDA) of $11.2 billion (Dh41.1 billion, reflecting its strong operating profitability. In 2025-26, the Group invested $4.9 billion (Dh17.9 billion) in new aircraft, facilities, equipment, and the latest technologies to support its growth plans.
“The achievements are the result of long-term vision, sustained effort, and continuous investment in our people and capabilities. The performance of the Emirates Group in 2025-26 reaffirms the strength, resilience, and adaptability of Dubai’s model.” HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, said in a statement.
“The Emirates Group embodies the spirit of Dubai. Over the past four decades, Emirates has grown into one of the world’s most respected airlines, defined by excellence, resilience, and a relentless pursuit of quality. Beyond connecting destinations, it brings people closer together and enhances how the world experiences travel. In parallel, Dnata continues to extend Dubai’s expertise globally, contributing to the advancement of aviation and travel services across continents.”
The Group’s total workforce grew by 8 percent to 130,919 employees, as Emirates and Dnata continued recruitment activity around the world to support its expanding operations and boost its future capabilities. The Group’s UAE national workforce also grew to surpass 4,000, showing the success of its programmes to attract, grow and retain local talent.
Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates airline and Group said, “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.
“For the first 11 months of 2025-26, the picture across the Group was very positive. Strong demand for our products and services was driving revenue, and we were achieving healthy margins thanks to our sustained investments in product, people, technology and brand. Month after month, we were surpassing our targets.
“On 28 February, military activity massively disrupted global commercial air traffic in the Gulf region, including in the UAE. Emirates and Dnata quickly mobilised to support our people and affected customers, protect our assets, and ensure business continuity.
“We are fortunate to be based in Dubai, where years of infrastructure investments and a cohesive aviation ecosystem have enabled the government to quickly secure safe corridors for commercial flights. Emirates and Dnata have since gradually restored operations at DXB. Although we are still operating at a lower passenger capacity than pre-disruption, cargo operations have ramped up to support the movement of essential goods into and through the UAE.”
Also published on Medium.
Follow Arabian Post
Select Arabian Post as your preferred source on Google and MSN News for trusted business news and Arab politics and updates.
