The Dubai-based carrier earned the title of Best Overall Airline in the Middle East after passengers recognised its performance across five key areas of the travel experience.
Emirates has been named Best Overall Airline in the Middle East at the APEX Awards 2026, further strengthening its position as one of the world’s leading airline brands. The award was presented in Dublin, Ireland, and recognised the carrier’s consistent focus on customer experience.
The recognition is based on verified passenger feedback collected through APEX’s partnership with TripIt from Concur. For the APEX Awards 2026, travellers evaluated more than one million flights across over 600 airlines worldwide using a five-star rating system.
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Strong scores across key categories
Emirates secured the top regional honour after passengers awarded high scores across five core categories: seat comfort, cabin service, food and beverage, entertainment, and connectivity. These categories form the foundation of the APEX passenger experience assessment programme.
The airline’s performance reflects continued investment in both onboard products and customer service. Emirates currently operates a large fleet of Airbus A380s, Airbus A350s, and Boeing 777 aircraft, while an ongoing retrofit programme continues to upgrade cabins across the network.
Customer experience remains a priority
According to passenger evaluations, comfort remains one of Emirates’ strongest differentiators. Travellers highlighted the airline’s spacious cabins, upgraded seating products, and premium cabin offerings across multiple aircraft types.
Meanwhile, Emirates also received recognition for its in-flight service, entertainment offering, and connectivity. The airline continues to invest heavily in onboard technology, dining experiences, and customer-focused enhancements across all travel classes.
Reinforcing Emirates’ global position
The latest recognition adds to a growing list of international accolades for the Dubai-based carrier. Industry observers continue to view Emirates as one of the benchmark airlines in long-haul travel, particularly across the Middle East region.
Furthermore, the award highlights the growing importance of passenger-led evaluations within the aviation sector. As travellers increasingly compare airlines on comfort, connectivity, and overall experience, customer feedback plays a larger role in shaping industry rankings and brand reputation.
With the APEX Awards 2026 recognising excellence across multiple aspects of the passenger journey, Emirates’ latest win underscores its continued focus on delivering a consistent and high-quality travel experience across its global network.
Key Points
- Emirates won Best Overall Airline in the Middle East at the APEX Awards 2026.
- The award is based on verified passenger feedback collected through TripIt from Concur.
- Travellers rated airlines across seat comfort, cabin service, food and beverage, entertainment, and connectivity.
- More than one million flights across over 600 airlines were evaluated.
- Emirates continues to invest in fleet upgrades, customer experience, and onboard innovation.
