Emirates is ending 2025 on a sky-high note after securing five major global accolades at the 32nd annual World Travel Awards in Bahrain. These honours add to the airline’s impressive tally of more than 20 awards received in 2025, further cementing its position as a world-leading aviation brand.
The new titles recognise Emirates as the World’s Leading Airline Brand, celebrate its award-winning inflight entertainment system ice, honour its First Class experience and First Class Lounges, and reaffirm Emirates Skywards as the World’s Leading Airline Rewards Programme for 2025.
Throughout the year, Emirates continued to dominate industry rankings. In November, it was voted Best Airline in the World for the eighth consecutive year at the ULTRAs travel awards, based on votes from Ultratravel’s 1.2 million global travellers. It also won Airline with the Best Premium Economy Class and earned a Lifetime Achievement Award for Services to Global Aviation presented to Sir Tim Clark. Aviation Business Middle East named Emirates Best First Class of the Year and Airline of the Year.
The airline also secured several Forbes Travel Guide Verified Air Travel Awards, including Best International Airline, Best International First Class, and Best International Airline Lounge, while The Times and The Sunday Times Travel Awards 2025 named it Best Long-Haul Airline. Sir Tim Clark also received the Distinguished Achievement Award from the Wings Club Foundation.
In September, Emirates earned two notable awards at the APEX/IFSA Global EXPO in Long Beach, California: the 2026 APEX Best™ Global Entertainment Award for its ice inflight entertainment system and a 2026 APEX WORLD CLASS™ award for excellence across customer experience and brand.
Earlier in the year, the airline was honoured with multiple accolades including Best Long-Haul Airline at The Telegraph Travel Awards, recognition as 2025’s Most Recommended Global Brand by YouGov, and several wins at the Business Traveller Middle East Awards, where it claimed Best Airline Worldwide for the 12th consecutive year, alongside Best First Class, Best Premium Economy Class, and Best Airport Lounge in the Middle East.
