Passengers have handed Emirates the title of Best Overall Airline in the Middle East at the 2026 APEX Best in Airline Awards, with the verdict resting entirely on feedback from people who have flown the Dubai carrier. The honour was confirmed during a ceremony in Dublin, Ireland.
What set the recognition apart was its basis in verified passenger ratings rather than expert panels. Travellers scored the airline across five areas of the journey: seat comfort, cabin service, food and beverage, inflight entertainment, and onboard connectivity. Strong marks across all five carried Emirates to the regional top spot.
Comfort proved a particular strength, with high ratings spanning the carrier’s A380, A350, and Boeing 777 aircraft. More improvements are coming through a fleet-wide cabin retrofit that touches every travel class. From October, Economy passengers will find new Safran Z400 seats with a headrest adjustable across eight positions, while Premium Economy gains wider cream leather seating, deeper recline, leg and foot supports, charging points, and a 13.3-inch screen.
The upper cabins see bigger changes still. Business Class seating on the A350 folds into fully flat beds and adds privacy features, wireless charging, mood lighting, storage, and a minibar. First Class travellers step into enclosed suites fitted with electronic doors, personal climate controls, ambient lighting, and lie-flat beds.
Dining shaped the scores too. The airline serves multi-course meals along with children’s options, special dietary selections, and menus built for each cabin. Premium Economy meals arrive on Royal Doulton china, Business Class diners get multi-course menus with premium drinks, and First Class offers dine-on-demand service, unlimited caviar, and a dedicated Movie Snacks Menu. Behind the service, Emirates pointed to cabin crew drawn from more than 140 nationalities and able to speak over 70 languages, describing an approach rooted in excellence, attentiveness, innovation, and passion.
Connectivity rounded out the winning formula. Emirates is fitting Starlink across its operating fleet, a rollout due for completion by mid-2027, with 33 Boeing 777-300ER jets already equipped and the first three Airbus A380s now flying with the system. The free service lets passengers stream, browse, work, make video calls, and use social media in the air. Entertainment options stretch further through the carrier’s ice system, which carries more than 6,500 channels covering films, television, music, podcasts, documentaries, children’s programming, live news, and sport.
