Emirates has secured the title of Best Overall Airline in the Middle East at the 2026 APEX Best in Airline Awards, following passenger evaluations covering more than one million flights worldwide.
The recognition was announced during a ceremony in Dublin and was based entirely on verified traveller feedback collected through the APEX awards program.
Passenger Ratings
Passengers rated the Dubai-based carrier highly across key aspects of the travel experience, including cabin comfort, onboard service, food and beverage offerings, entertainment and internet connectivity.
The award comes as Emirates continues a major fleet upgrade program spanning its Airbus A380, Airbus A350 and Boeing 777 aircraft, with new-generation cabin products being introduced across multiple travel classes.
The airline's multicultural cabin crew also contributed to the strong ratings. Emirates employs crew members from more than 140 nationalities who collectively speak over 70 languages.
Its inflight dining program, featuring destination-inspired menus and multi-course meals, received positive feedback from travellers across cabin classes. At the same time, premium passengers highlighted specialised offerings available in Business and First Class.
Passengers also rated the airline's ice entertainment platform among its strongest features. The system provides access to more than 6,500 channels, including movies, television programs, music, podcasts, live sports coverage and educational content.
Connectivity was another area recognised by travellers. Emirates has begun introducing Starlink high-speed internet services across its fleet, with more than 33 Boeing 777-300ER aircraft and three Airbus A380s already equipped with the technology.
Fleet-wide deployment is expected by mid-2027.
Award Based on Global Reviews
The APEX awards are determined through independent passenger reviews gathered via TripIt from Concur, one of the world's largest travel planning platforms.
For the 2026 awards, more than one million flights across over 600 airlines were evaluated using a five-star rating system.