Dubai-based Emirates Airline (EK) will award employees bonuses equivalent to 20 weeks of basic salary after the Emirates Group reported a record US$6.6 billion annual profit. The group said resilient travel demand, premium cabin performance, and strong financial reserves enabled it to maintain profitability even as regional military activity disrupted commercial aviation networks across the Middle East.
The Emirates Group has announced a profit-sharing bonus equivalent to 20 weeks of basic salary for its approximately 130,000 employees after posting a record annual profit of AED24.4 billion (US$6.6 billion) for the 2025-26 financial year. And what is more astounding is that the carrier is looking to hire 20,000 staff in the next four years. The payout comes despite significant geopolitical instability and operational disruption across the Gulf region that has led to many aircraft in Iran being destroyed, turning Nepalese aviation into a survival mode, and forcing airlines to adopt measures such as increasing checked baggage fees by $10.
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Emirates Employees to Receive Bonus Equal To 20 Weeks of Salary
The latest profit-sharing payout means eligible Emirates Group employees will receive bonuses amounting to roughly 38% of their annual basic salary. While Emirates has historically rewarded staff during profitable years, the formula remains discretionary and is determined by the company’s senior leadership rather than a fixed contractual mechanism.
The bonus follows several consecutive years of strong payouts by the carrier. Employees received bonuses equivalent to 24 weeks of salary for the 2022-23 financial year, 20 weeks for 2023-24, and 22 weeks for 2024-25. Prior to that, the airline suspended large-scale bonuses during years affected by weaker market conditions and the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a message circulated internally to employees, Emirates Group Chairman and Chief Executive Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum praised staff for navigating what he described as one of the company’s most difficult operational periods in recent memory, saying that despite the difficulties that the carrier has faced in the past, “our people, and each time, we have bounced back stronger“.
“Our people are a big part of our success, enabling us to respond with agility in a dynamic operating environment. I’d like to thank all our employees – they have truly exemplified the qualities that set the Emirates Group apart during testing times….big thank you to all our ecosystem partners who keep global aviation moving. Their collaboration and solidarity are invaluable and reflect the spirit of partnership that is central to how the Emirates Group operates.”
According to Gulf News, The Emirates Group remains among Dubai’s largest employers, with its workforce expanding by 8% to 130,919 employees. Over the past year, the Group reviewed 3.5 million job applications, shortlisted approximately 390,000 candidates, and hired more than 9,700 employees in the United Arab Emirates.
The same source also highlighted the numbers from The Oxford Economics, showcasing several key figures underscoring Emirates Group’s economic significance and operational recovery:
- Dubai’s aviation sector currently supports more than 630,000 jobs.
- Employment linked to the sector is projected to grow by an additional 185,000 jobs by 2030.
- Emirates is presently operating flights to 137 destinations.
- The airline’s network spans 72 countries across multiple global regions.
Emirates Group Reports Record US$6.6 Billion Profit
According to the Emirates Group’s annual report, the company achieved record financial results across several metrics during the fiscal year ending March 31, 2026. Group revenue climbed 3% year-on-year to AED150.5 billion (US$41 billion), while cash assets rose 12% to AED59.6 billion (US$16.2 billion).
Emirates Airline alone reported profit before tax of AED22.8 billion (US$6.2 billion), retaining its status as the world’s most profitable airline during the reporting cycle. The carrier also maintained a strong operating margin of 17.4%, despite modest declines in passenger numbers during the latter part of the fiscal year.
Here’s a look at the data that gives us a sense of why Emirates has retained its place as the world’s most profitable airline:
| Metric | Emirates FY 2025-26 Result | Year-on-Year Change | Additional Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Profit Before Tax (PBT) | AED 22.8 billion (US$ 6.2 billion) | Up 7% | PBT margin of 17.4% |
| Revenue | AED 130.9 billion (US$ 35.7 billion) | Up 2% | Record annual revenue |
| Cash Assets | AED 54.9 billion (US$ 15.0 billion) | Up 10% | Highest-ever cash asset level as of 31 March 2025 |
In its official statement, Emirates acknowledged that military activity beginning on February 28 severely disrupted commercial air traffic across the Gulf region, including operations within the United Arab Emirates. Nevertheless, the airline stated that it had restored 96% of its network by early May.
Emirates Continues Fleet Expansion Despite Industry Headwinds
The record profitability also enabled Emirates, which is one of the best airlines in terms of amenity kits in the first class, to continue pursuing one of the aviation industry’s most ambitious fleet investment strategies. Here’s a look at the carrier’s current fleet:
| Aircraft Type | In Service | Parked | Current Total | Future Orders | Average Age | Total Aircraft |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbus A319 | — | 1 | 1 | — | 14.7 Years | 1 |
| Airbus A350 XWB | 19 | — | 19 | 13 | 0.8 Years | 32 |
| Airbus A380 | 90 | 26 | 116 | — | 11.3 Years | 123 |
| Boeing 777 | 137 | 7 | 144 | 20 | 12.4 Years | 221 |
| Total | 246 | 34 | 280 | 33 | 11.2 Years | 377 |
Emirates expanded its fleet during the financial year with the addition of 15 Airbus A350 aircraft, allowing the carrier to further roll out its latest onboard products, including the increasingly prominent Premium Economy cabin and an upgraded next-generation inflight entertainment platform. As of 31 March, the airline operated 19 A350s serving 21 destinations across its network.
By the end of the reporting period, Emirates’ total fleet stood at 277 aircraft with an average fleet age of 10.8 years.
During the 2025 Dubai Airshow, the airline unveiled additional fleet commitments valued at approximately US$41.4 billion at list prices, including orders for:
- 65 Boeing 777-9 aircraft
- eight additional Airbus A350-900s
As of 31 March, Emirates’ outstanding order backlog totaled 367 aircraft, consisting:
- 54 A350s
- 270 Boeing 777X aircraft
- 35 Boeing 787s
- eight Boeing 777 freighters
, with deliveries expected to continue through 2038.
| Metric | Emirates SkyCargo FY 2025-26 Result | Year-on-Year Change | Additional Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cargo Carried | 2.4 million tonnes | Up 3% | Freight transported across the global network |
| Revenue | AED 16.2 billion (US$ 4.4 billion) | Not specified | Contributed 12% of Emirates’ total revenue |
| Cargo Yield Per FTKM | Not specified | Down 3% | Decline attributed to market pressure and tariff impacts on eCommerce trade |
Regional Crisis Failed to Derail Emirates’ Financial Momentum
The company’s strong performance came against a backdrop of mounting instability in the Middle East aviation market. Airspace restrictions, route suspensions, elevated fuel costs, and operational uncertainty disrupted multiple airlines operating in the Gulf region during the final weeks of the financial year.
The Emirates Group additionally declared a dividend of AED3.5 billion (US$1 billion) payable to the Investment Corporation of Dubai, the sovereign wealth fund that owns the aviation conglomerate.
While executives acknowledged that geopolitical volatility may weigh on the upcoming financial year, Emirates indicated that its long-term expansion strategy remains unchanged.
“To all critics who believe Dubai and the Emirates Group are in decline, we’ve heard this before and proved them wrong every time,” Sheikh Ahmed said in remarks cited in employee communications. “We’re coming back bigger, better and bolder as we always do after a crisis.”