Emirates has announced it will launch a third daily service to Nairobi beginning 1 March 2026, strengthening its 30-year presence in Kenya and supporting the country’s inbound tourism ambitions. The additional frequency brings the airline’s weekly operations to 21 flights, offering seamless connections from Dubai to nearly 150 global destinations.
The new service adds an early morning arrival and departure, improving connectivity from major European markets such as the UK, France, Italy, and Norway, as well as the United States. The move aligns with Kenya’s goal of attracting five million international tourists by 2030. Flight EK717 will leave Dubai at 00:55 and arrive in Nairobi at 05:05, while the return flight EK718 departs at 06:50 and lands in Dubai at 12:50.
Emirates’ two existing daily flights have been operating at high seat load factors, signaling strong demand. The third flight, operated with a three-class Boeing 777, will expand capacity and provide additional access to Emirates’ signature First Class cabins—the only such offering on the route.
The schedule has also been designed for convenient onward travel through Emirates’ interline partnership with Kenya Airways, boosting connections to regional destinations including Rwanda, Kilimanjaro, Mozambique, and Burundi. Since the partnership began in 2023, more than 31,000 passengers have benefited—almost evenly split between both carriers.
Cargo capacity will also increase, with the new daily flight adding 280 tonnes of weekly belly-hold space. The early morning outbound service will especially support the export of fresh Kenyan produce such as fruits, vegetables, and flowers.
Kenya and the UAE continue to strengthen economic ties, reinforced by the signing of a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement earlier this year. Emirates SkyCargo already operates three weekly freighters to Nairobi, and with the expanded passenger services, total weekly cargo capacity will exceed 1,100 tonnes.
This year, Emirates marked three decades of service to Nairobi. Since its first flight in 1995, the airline has transported more than 6.6 million passengers to and from Kenya, connecting inbound travellers from markets such as China, South Korea, Thailand, Australia, and the US, with similar demand for outbound travel to cities like Shanghai, Melbourne, and New York.
In 2024, Emirates also opened Africa’s first Emirates World retail store in Nairobi, offering immersive product displays and personalised travel services.
Bookings for the three daily Dubai–Nairobi flights are now available on emirates.com, the Emirates app, Emirates Retail Stores, and through travel agency partners.
