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Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, then UAE Minister of Defence and a member of Dubai’s progressive royal family, asked Sir Maurice Flanagan, then managing director of dnata, to look into starting an airline. By December that year, a comprehensive business plan was ready, and the name “Emirates” was chosen for the new airline.

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First flights from Dubai

On 25 October 1985, Emirates operated its flights from Dubai to Karachi and Mumbai, using a Boeing 737 and an Airbus 300 B4 wet‑leased from Pakistan International Airlines.

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First owned aircraft

On 3 July 1987, A6-EKA flew from Toulouse to Dubai as Emirates took delivery of its first owned aircraft, an Airbus A310-304.

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Setting a new standard
Emirates set a new standard by becoming the first airline to install video systems in all seats, in every cabin class throughout its fleet.

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A new terminal at DXB

In 1992, Dubai International airport completed a major refurbishment, and Emirates moved into a new $2 million departure terminal.

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Pioneering inflight connectivity

Emirates becomes the first airline to introduce telecommunications on an Airbus – in all three classes.

Partnership US Airways
A partnership agreement with US Airways entered in the fall of 1993 allowed Emirates to offer services around the world.
It previously had cooperation agreements with Cyprus Airways.

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By 1994, the airline was connecting 32 destinations with its 15 aircraft. At this time Emirates was the sixth largest airline in the Middle East.

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Fax services in the sky

Emirates becomes the first airline to equip its Airbus fleet with an inflight fax facility for customers to stay in touch while in the air.

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Emirates buys 43% stake in Air Lanka

Emirates Group takes a 43% stake in Air Lanka (later renamed SriLankan), and signs a 10-year management contract.

Terminal 2 opens at DXB

The new Terminal 2 opens at Dubai International, expanding capacity at the airport by 2 million passengers per year.

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Dubai’s growth as an aviation hub

Passenger arrivals at Dubai international hit the 11 million mark. That financial year (1999‑2000), Emirates carried 4.7 million passengers on its fleet of 32 aircraft.

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The Sheikh Rashid Terminal opens, in 2000 increasing the capacity at Dubai International to 22 million passengers a year.

First airline to sign up for Airbus A380

Emirates becomes the first airline to sign up for the Airbus A380, ordering seven with options for five more at the Farnborough Air Show. The world’s largest commercial aircraft will become a flagship of the Emirates fleet over the next two decades.

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The GBP100 million deal with Arsenal

Emirates signs a GBP100 million deal with English Premiership club Arsenal, including naming rights to its new stadium for 15 years and shirt sponsorship for eight years, starting from the 2006/07 season.

Renewed in 2012 and 2018, this is the longest running shirt partnership in the Premier League, and one of the longest relationships in world sport.

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Largest Boeing 777 order in history

Emirates makes history with an order for 42 Boeing 777s in a deal worth $9.7 billion. This was the largest‑ever Boeing 777 order at the time. Today, Emirates is the world’s biggest operator of 777 aircraft.

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Emirates Flight Catering

Emirates Flight Catering begins operations at its new $120 million facility at Dubai International.

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Emirates Terminal 3 opens at DXB

The Emirates‑dedicated Terminal 3 saw 500,000 passengers depart from the facility within its first month of operation.

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Most valuable airline brand

Emirates is named the world’s “Most valuable airline brand”, and the Middle East’s most valuable brand by Brand Finance, with an estimated value of US$3.7 billion.

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Emirates named world's best airline

Emirates is named the World’s Best Airline and receives 12th consecutive award for best In‑flight Entertainment at Skytrax World Airline Awards 2016.

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Flydubai partnership

Emirates and flydubai announce strategic partnership, including an expansive codeshare agreement, schedule alignment and network optimisation.

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A world record breaking flight
Over 540 volunteer passengers from 145 nationalities take off on Emirates flight EK2019, breaking the Guinness World Record for the most nationalities on an aircraft. The historic A380 flight marks UAE National Day and the UAE Year of Tolerance, and showcases the diversity and unity of the citizen and residents of the UAE.