Emirates named Best Airline in the Middle East at the 2026 APEX Awards
Emirates has been named "Best Overall Airline in the Middle East" at the 2026 APEX Best in Airline Awards, the recognition based on verified passenger feedback. The award was announced in Dublin and confirms the airline's role as one of the leading international air transport brands.
The assessment looked at five aspects of the in-flight experience: seat comfort, cabin service, food and beverage, entertainment and connectivity. Emirates achieved high marks for the quality of the cabins on Airbus A380, A350 and Boeing 777, the service offered by international crews and the care of the experience in all classes of travel.
Popular features include Premium Economy, with more spacious seats and dedicated amenities, Business Class with seats that can be converted into fully flat beds, and First Class with private suites. The company also continues to invest in fleet renewal, with new seating and on-board solutions designed to improve passenger comfort.
Emirates was also recognised for its dining, with destination-inspired menus served, special meals and a premium offering in the upper classes. The ice entertainment system is also central, offering over 6,500 channels including films, TV series, music, podcasts, documentaries, sports and children's content.
Connectivity is another key point of the Emirates experience. The company is introducing Starlink Wi-Fi to the fleet, with completion expected by mid-2027, to offer passengers a faster connection during the flight.
The APEX Best in Airline Awards are based on anonymous, verified passenger reviews collected through Concur's partnership with TripIt. For the 2026 edition, more than one million flights operated by more than 600 airlines worldwide were evaluated.
