Emirates has received awards this month from the Forbes Travel Guide Verified Air Travel Awards, World Travel Awards, The Times and Sunday Times Travel Awards, and Conde Nast Readers’ Choice Awards.
The airline secured ‘Best International Airline’, ‘Best International First Class’, and ‘Best International Airline Lounge’ at the Forbes Travel Guide Verified Air Travel Awards. Emirates won the ‘Best International Airline’ title for the second year in a row, voted by 9,000 fliers in the hospitality industry, including travel advisors and Forbes Travel Guides inspectors. Results were validated using a star ratings system.
Emirates sweeps Forbes Travel Awards with First Class and Lounge wins
Forbes explained the reason for Emirates’ selection as ‘Best International Airline’: “The secret to the Dubai-based airline’s success is that it continually refines every aspect of the passenger experience. For example, Emirates recently debuted an opulent lounge-like check-in area for its First-Class and Skywards Platinum members, and it’s the first autism-certified airline, with more than 30,000 cabin crew and ground staff trained to support travellers with autism.”
Emirates was named ‘Best Long-Haul Airline’ at The Times and The Sunday Times Travel Awards 2025, based on 900,000 reader votes. The award recognised the airline’s “cabin crew service, First Class suites (including showers) and fleet of roomy Airbus A380s.”
The Times noted that Emirates continues to expand and has “connected the Middle East to five new destinations this year, including Shenzhen in southern China” and “Siem Reap, the entry point to the Angkor Wat complex in Cambodia.”
Emirates scored 87.86 in the Conde Nast Readers’ Choice Awards Best Airline Category. The airline won the title of Middle East’s leading airline brand at the regional finals of the World Travel Awards 2025.
Emirates is the world’s operator of international First Class travel, offering 26,800 seats a week. The airline has the inventory of international First Class seats in the industry, comprised of suites.
At the Forbes awards, Emirates won ‘Best International First Class – Emirates First Class on the Boeing 777-300ER’. Forbes described the suites as delivering “sky-high luxury: floor-to-ceiling doors, zero-gravity seats, Bulgari fragrances and food—ranging from movie snacks to caviar”, along with “extras like chauffeured transfers, a service that helps passengers quickly navigate connections in Dubai and airport lounge access”.
Emirates received the Forbes ‘Best International Airline Lounge’ award for its First Class Lounge in Dubai. Forbes stated the lounge offers “everything a traveller could need and more: delicious dishes ranging from baked John Dory to 72-hour braised beef short ribs, a cigar bar, bar, shower spas, a complimentary 15-minute spa treatment and plentiful areas to rest or work. Though arguably the best perk is the convenient direct boarding from the lounge.”
Forbes names Emirates Best International First Class on Boeing 777-300ER
Emirates won honours for its First Class at the World Travel Awards 2025 regional final, including Middle East’s leading airline – First Class and Middle East’s leading airline lounge – First Class.
Earlier in 2025, Emirates received awards including Best Long-Haul Airline at The Telegraph Travel Awards, 2025’s Most Recommended Global Brand by YouGov, and categories at the Business Traveller Middle East Awards. These included Best Airline Worldwide for the 12th year, Best First Class, Best Premium Economy Class, and Best Airport Lounge in the Middle East.
Emirates Skywards was named Best Global Airline Loyalty Program at the International Loyalty Awards 2025 and World Travel Awards Middle East’s leading airline rewards programme.
