Emirates crowned ‘Best Overall Airline in the Middle East’ by APEX Awards

Emirates has been named ‘Best Overall Airline in the Middle East’ at the 2026 APEX Best in Airline Awards, further cementing its reputation as one of the world’s leading travel brands. The accolade was announced at a ceremony in Dublin, Ireland, where the airline was recognised for consistently delivering exceptional customer experience.

Based on verified passenger feedback, Emirates achieved outstanding scores across five pillars - seat comfort, cabin service, food and beverage, entertainment, and connectivity.

Whether travelling on an Airbus A380, A350 or Boeing 777, Emirates customers consistently praise the airline’s commitment to comfort. Thoughtfully designed cabins, generous personal space and ergonomic seating combine to create an environment where passengers can relax, work or sleep with ease, even on the world’s longest routes.

As part of Emirates’ ongoing fleet retrofit programme, every cabin continues to be enhanced with the latest generation of seating and onboard features. From October onwards, Emirates Economy Class customers will benefit from the introduction of new lightweight Safran Z400 seats, specifically designed for comfort and convenience, featuring an adjustable eight-way headrest for enhanced neck and head support.

The award-winning Emirates Premium Economy cabin offers spacious cream leather seats with generous recline, full leg and footrests, and a six-way adjustable headrest designed for long-haul comfort.

Customers also enjoy integrated charging ports, side cocktail tables and a 13.3-inch personal entertainment screen.

Connectivity has become an essential part of the modern travel experience, and Emirates is setting a new industry standard through its partnership with Starlink. The next-generation inflight connectivity programme is delivering ultra-fast, low-latency internet that enables passengers to stream, work, browse and stay connected with the same ease as on the ground.

APEX leverages its partnership with TripIt® from Concur®, the world’s most used travel-organising app, to gather anonymous passenger feedback based on neutral, third-party passenger feedback and insights for the honours.