Emirates is ending 2025 with an impressive flourish, adding five new global accolades to its growing list of achievements for the year. At the 32nd annual World Travel Awards held in Bahrain, the airline was recognised across multiple categories, reaffirming its position as one of the world’s leading carriers and a benchmark for premium travel experiences.

 

The latest wins celebrate Emirates as the World’s Leading Airline Brand 2025, alongside top honours for its multi award-winning ice inflight entertainment system, First Class product, First Class Lounge at Dubai International Airport’s Terminal 3, and its long-standing loyalty programme, Emirates Skywards, which was named World’s Leading Airline Rewards Programme 2025.

 

Emirates’ Five New World Travel Awards Titles

• World’s Leading Airline Brand 2025
• World’s Leading Airline Inflight Entertainment 2025
• World’s Leading Airline Rewards Programme 2025 – Emirates Skywards
• World’s Leading Airline – First Class 2025
• World’s Leading Airline Lounge – First Class 2025 (Dubai International, Terminal 3)

These latest honours cap a year of remarkable recognition for the airline. In November, Emirates was named Best Airline in the World for the eighth consecutive year at the ULTRAs, voted for by Ultratravel’s network of 1.2 million travellers. The carrier also took home awards for Best Premium Economy Class, while Sir Tim Clark received a Lifetime Achievement Award for Services to Global Aviation. Aviation Business Middle East added to the momentum, naming Emirates Best First Class of the Year and Airline of the Year.

 

Further accolades followed from Forbes Travel Guide’s 2025 Verified Air Travel Awards, where the airline was recognised as Best International Airline, Best International First Class, and Best International Airline Lounge. The Times and The Sunday Times Travel Awards also presented Emirates with the Best Long-Haul Airline title, while the Wings Club Foundation honoured Sir Tim Clark with its Distinguished Achievement Award.

 

In September, Emirates continued its award streak at the APEX/IFSA Global EXPO in Long Beach, securing the 2026 APEX Bestâ„¢ Global Entertainment Award for ice and a 2026 APEX WORLD CLASSâ„¢ award for excellence across its customer experience and brand.

 

These achievements added to multiple earlier-year awards, including Best Long-Haul Airline at The Telegraph Travel Awards, YouGov’s title as 2025’s Most Recommended Global Brand, and numerous wins at the Business Traveller Middle East Awards, where Emirates was named Best Airline Worldwide for the twelfth consecutive year.

 

With more than 20 accolades collected across 2025, Emirates closes the year as one of the most celebrated airlines globally—continuing to set the pace in customer experience, product innovation and brand leadership.