The colours red and beige have been synonymous with Emirates since the airline dressed its first 80 cabin crew members in 1985, a palette that has remained unchanged through four decades of growth to 25,000 staff flying to more than 140 destinations today.
The uniform, which now uses nano-coated fabrics for stain and crease resistance, has evolved through collaborations with designer Paco Rabanne and the introduction of 15 shoe styles for female crew, but the carrier said it “rejects fast fashion and trends in favour of timeless style and sophistication.”
The sandy-beige tone symbolises desert dunes of the United Arab Emirates, while the cream chiffon scarf features seven pleats representing the seven Emirates of the UAE.
So, how did it become iconic not just regionally but internationally?
1985: The birth of an identity
Emirates introduced its first cabin crew uniform in 1985 for 80 crew members. Female cabin crew received sandy-beige jackets with red piping and shoulder pads, paired with a skirt that hung just below the knee with one pleat in the middle.
The uniform included a cream blouse, a red ribbon tied in a bow around the collar, and a red hat featuring the Emirates Arabic logo with a white scarf. The cream chiffon scarf featured seven pleats to represent the seven Emirates of the UAE.
Male cabin crew and pilots wore a grey suit with a red tie, white shirt and gold insignia. Both male and female crew wore black leather shoes.
1987: Expansion and cultural elements of the Emirates uniform
Emirates refreshed the female uniform in 1987 with a double-breasted beige jacket featuring gold buttons, a longer skirt with an extended pleat, and a white blouse with an Emirates logo pattern.
By the end of 1987, Emirates served around 11 destinations including Amman, Mumbai, Cairo, Colombo, Delhi, Dhaka, Frankfurt, Istanbul, Karachi, London Gatwick and Male.
The airline introduced a ‘Summer Safari’ dress for female crew, designed with structured shoulders, front pockets and a red belt at the waist. Female crew in First Class wore a ‘Thoub,’ a traditional Arabic dress, to serve Arabic coffee and dates.
All 180 cabin crew wore a pochette in their pockets that symbolised the flag of the UAE for both winter and summer.
1997: Collaborating with world-known designers
Emirates partnered with Spanish designer Paco Rabanne in 1997 to redesign the uniforms. The female uniform retained the beige and red colour scheme but featured updated cuts and fits, with the addition of brown bags and brown shoes.
Rabanne designed a skirt and blouse with a round neck and jacquard logo print, under a jacket with a mandarin collar for female cabin crew. Male crew members wore navy blue jackets paired with beige trousers and brown shoes.
By this time, Emirates had served 3 million customers with 1,500 cabin crew across more than 44 destinations.
2008: The A380 era begins
Emirates introduced a new uniform iteration in July 2008 to mark the arrival of the airline’s first Airbus A380. The in-house team collaborated with Simon Jersey to design the update for 11,000 cabin crew.
The female uniform featured a pinstripe, four kick pleats in the skirt revealing red fabric, and red trims throughout the suiting. The hat was redesigned with the Emirates logo positioned on the side in a wing shape. Shoes, belts and bags were produced in a maroon red shade.
The male uniform was reintroduced in a chocolate brown pinstripe with red trim, complemented by a cream shirt and a striped tie in gold, brown and red. Emirates served 99 destinations at this time.
2023: Technology and choice
Emirates began offering female cabin crew a range of 15 shoe styles in 2023. The Spanish-manufactured, 100% leather shoes offer a variety of heights, widths, shapes and styles.
The airline introduced matching red leather handbags and belts in a brighter red colour than previous versions. Emirates cabin crew maintain their uniform appearance through nano-coated fabrics for stain and crease resistance.
The technology ensures the uniform “stays immaculate even after long-haul flights,” according to the airline. Emirates stated that “practicality and comfort placed above all else” allow cabin crew to “maintain high standards of safety and deliver world-class hospitality.”
The carrier described the uniform as “both evocative and emotive – capturing the glamour of flying with Emirates, and the power of a world-renowned brand.”
