Emirates has reached a significant milestone in Kenya, marking 30 years since its first flight touched down in Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) in October 1995.
Since then, the Dubai-based carrier has transported more than 6.6 million passengers to and from the country across over 34,250 flights.
Emirates currently operates two daily Boeing 777 services to Nairobi, linking the city with over 145 destinations across the globe. The service has since become a vital trade and tourism route, with passengers from Asia, Australia, and North America making up a significant portion of travelers passing through Kenya’s capital.
According to Emirates, over the past year, most visitors to Kenya have come from South Korea, China, Thailand, and Australia, along with the US.
Meanwhile, Kenyans traveling outbound are heading to major cities like Shanghai, Beijing, Melbourne, Sydney, Seattle, New York, and Washington.
Expanding East African connectivity
In 2023, Emirates partnered with Kenya Airways through an interline agreement, allowing passengers to book onward connections to popular East African destinations. The airline said that around 31,000 passengers have used it over the past two years, split almost evenly between Kenya Airways and Emirates customers.
For Emirates passengers, the most sought-after destinations beyond Nairobi include Rwanda, Malawi, Tanzania’s Kilimanjaro region, Mozambique, and Burundi.
Nairobi: home to Africa’s first Emirates World Store
Nairobi is also home to Africa’s first Emirates World Store, which opened in 2024 at the modern Cube building on Riverside Drive.
The store brings Emirates’ reimagined retail concept to life with expert travel advisors, immersive displays, and an elevated customer experience.
Emirates is currently the only airline to offer first class seats in and out of Kenya.
Supporting Kenya’s economy
In early 2025, Kenya and the UAE entered into a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. Emirates SkyCargo plays a crucial role in Kenya’s global trade, operating three weekly freighters to Nairobi in addition to cargo capacity on passenger flights.
Kenya ranks among the world’s top four flower-producing countries, growing roses, carnations, and chrysanthemums for global markets. In 2024 alone, Emirates SkyCargo transported over 16,000 tons of fresh-cut flowers, getting blooms from Kenyan farms to florists worldwide.
Emirates said it has created substantial employment opportunities for Kenyans, both locally and globally. The airline employs about 50 people in its Nairobi office, while more than 1,100 Kenyans work across the Emirates Group worldwide in roles spanning HR, sales, marketing, and flight operations.
Among them, 254 Kenyans serve as cabin crew as part of Emirates’ multinational team, while another 41 work as pilots.
