Emirates has won the title of Best Airline in the Middle East at the APEX Airline of the Year Awards 2026, with the recognition announced at a ceremony held in Dublin.
The award is based on verified passenger ratings across five categories: seat comfort, cabin service, food and beverages, in-flight entertainment, and connectivity. Travellers on board the carrier’s Airbus A380, A350, and Boeing 777 fleets all contributed to the scores.
Emirates pointed to its cabin design as a factor in the ratings, citing seat pitch, personal space, and the layout of its cabins as features that allow passengers to rest, work, or sleep on longer routes.
As part of its fleet renewal programme, the airline is introducing Safran Z400 economy seats from October, with the new seats featuring an eight-direction adjustable headrest designed to improve neck and head support.
Separately, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz toured an Emirates Airbus A380 at the opening of ILA Berlin 2026, the aerospace exhibition running until 14 June. Emirates president Sir Tim Clark and Volker Greiner, the airline’s vice president for Northern and Central Europe, received Merz on board. Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner and Brandenburg Minister-President Dr Dietmar Woidke also visited the aircraft.
On the second day of the show, the airline is scheduled to welcome the minister-presidents of Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia. Emirates has participated in the Berlin airshow since 2010 and has operated routes into Germany since 1987.
