Emirates SkyCargo has passed one million pharmaceutical shipments since launching its specialised pharma product in September 2016, the company announced on October 1, 2026. The milestone represents more than 800,000 tonnes of pharmaceutical cargo moved across six continents through its Dubai hub.
The carrier currently transports between 1.5 and 2 million kilograms of pharmaceutical products each week. Its Dubai operation spans over 16,500 square metres of GDP (Good Distribution Practice) certified handling and storage across Dubai International Airport and Dubai World Central, supported by a fleet of more than 55 cool dollies — mobile temperature-controlled units that maintain shipment temperatures during aircraft transfers.
“Over the last decade, Emirates SkyCargo’s pharma product has become the gold standard for air transportation of pharmaceuticals. This has not happened by chance or by accident. It is the result of years of investing in our processes, our capabilities, our people and our infrastructure. It is also an outcome of working closely with pharma shippers, freight forwarders, airports, ground handlers, multi-modal transport providers and other parties in the cool-chain ecosystem to develop customised solutions that meet industry needs. We’re also constantly evolving our offerings to keep pace with the latest developments. We ultimately have only one goal, and that is to make sure that we transport these lifesaving medicines and treatments in the best possible conditions as they directly touch the lives of people around the world,” Badr Abbas, Divisional Senior Vice President, Emirates SkyCargo said in a statement.
The decade has included several operational expansions. During the 2020–2022 pandemic period, Emirates SkyCargo established a dedicated GDP-certified hub for vaccine transport and flew more than one billion doses.
In 2023, it launched Emirates Vital and Emirates Medical Devices, covering human organs, tissues, cell and gene therapies, clinical trial materials and medical equipment. By 2025, its pharmaceutical network had grown to 43 dedicated stations worldwide.
The carrier says it is the only global air cargo operator to apply thermal blankets to all pharma shipments without exception. In 2026, it expanded its supplier pool for those blankets to improve availability across key markets and reduce lead times.
Major origin markets for pharmaceutical cargo include India, Germany, Belgium, the UK, the USA and Switzerland.
