Emirates Group employees are to receive a 20-week salary bonus in response to the company’s record financial performance in fiscal year 2025-26.
The Dubai-based aviation conglomerate, which includes Emirates airline and ground services arm dnata, announced the bonus on May 7, 2026. The payout comes after a year in which the group achieved historic highs in net profits, revenues, and cash reserves, despite significant disruptions caused by regional conflict in the final month of the fiscal year.
A thank-you for resilience
In a letter to staff, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, acknowledged the challenges employees faced during the year, particularly in March when military activity in the region severely disrupted operations.
“March 2026 will fade into memory, but we will never forget your bravery and incredible resilience,” Sheikh Ahmed wrote. “You were called upon during one of the most complex and challenging times in our history and you showed up with commitment and passion. For that, I will remain forever grateful to you.”
The group’s workforce grew 8% over the year to a total of 130,919 employees. Emirates Group shortlisted 390,000 candidates from 3.5 million applications and onboarded more than 9,700 people in the UAE during the same period.
Background: Record profits despite regional conflict
Emirates Group reported a record profit before tax of Dh 24.4 billion (US $6.6 billion), up 7% year-on-year. Group revenue reached Dh 150.5 billion (US $41 billion), a 3% increase, while cash assets climbed 12% to Dh 59.6 billion (US $16.2 billion). Emirates’ airline alone posted a pre-tax profit of $6.2 billion, with its profit margin rising from 16.5% to 17.4%.
For the second year in a row, Emirates is the world’s most profitable airline in the 2025-26 reporting period.
The airline has reported record-breaking financial results, despite a disruptive and challenging 12th month of its financial year, including:
🏆 Record profit before… pic.twitter.com/H8I62qwMYF
— Emirates (@emirates) May 7, 2026
The results came despite disruptions triggered by military activity between the US, Israel, and Iran that began in late February, throwing Middle East aviation into chaos. UAE airspace was temporarily affected, grounding Emirates’ commercial operations for a period. The airline has since resumed services and is now operating to 137 destinations across 72 countries.
