Emirates has once again cemented its place at the top of global aviation, taking home a string of international awards that recognise its premium service, innovation, and leadership in First Class travel.
At the Forbes Travel Guide Verified Air Travel Awards 2025, the Dubai-based carrier was named Best International Airline, Best International First Class, and Best International Airline Lounge. It marks the second consecutive year Emirates has secured Forbesโ top airline honour, based on votes from more than 9,000 hospitality professionals, luxury travel advisors, and Forbes inspectors.
โForbesโ highlighted Emiratesโ ability to โcontinually refine every aspect of the passenger experience,โ citing innovations such as its new lounge-style First Class check-in area and autism-certified service training for more than 30,000 crew and staff.
The accolades extended beyond Forbes. At the Times and Sunday Times Travel Awards 2025, Emirates was voted Best Long-Haul Airline, selected from 900,000 reader votes. The publication praised Emiratesโ โexceptional cabin crew service, First Class suites with onboard showers, and its fleet of roomy Airbus A380s,โ while also noting the airlineโs recent network growth to destinations including Shenzhen, China, and Siem Reap, Cambodia.
In addition, Emirates achieved a score of 87.86 in the Condรฉ Nast Readersโ Choice Awards Best Airline category, and was named Middle Eastโs Leading Airline Brand at the World Travel Awards 2025.
Emirates continues to set the global standard for luxury air travel, operating more than 26,800 First Class seats weeklyโall private suites, the largest such inventory of any airline. Its Boeing 777-300ER First Class suite earned Forbesโ Best International First-Class award for its โfloor-to-ceiling doors, zero-gravity seats, Bulgari amenities, and gourmet dining,โ complemented by chauffeured transfers, personalised assistance in Dubai, and lounge access.
The carrierโs Dubai First Class Lounge was also named Best International Airline Lounge by Forbes, praised for its premium dining, cigar bar, spa treatments, and direct boarding access. Emirates further collected regional wins at the World Travel Awards, including Middle Eastโs Leading Airline โ First Class and Leading Airline Lounge โ First Class.
Earlier in 2025, Emirates was recognised as Best Long-Haul Airline at The Telegraph Travel Awards, Most Recommended Global Brand by YouGov, and Best Airline Worldwide for the 12th year running at the Business Traveller Middle East Awards. The airline also dominated in several premium categories, including Best First Class, Best Premium Economy, and Best Airport Lounge in the Middle East.
Its loyalty programme, Emirates Skywards, maintained its award-winning streak, being named Best Global Airline Loyalty Program at the International Loyalty Awards 2025 and Middle Eastโs Leading Airline Rewards Programme at the World Travel Awards.
