Emirates Posts US$6B Yearly Profit, Beats Delta as Top Carrier

‍DALLAS  — Emirates Group has unveiled its strongest financial performance in the 2024‑25 Annual Report.

The group posted record-breaking profit, revenue, EBITDA, and cash balances, cementing its position as the world’s most profitable aviation group and making Emirates (EK) the most profitable airline globally, beating Delta Air Lines (DL).

Group Highlights for the Year

Profit before tax climbed 18% to AED 22.7 billion (US$ 6.2 billion), up from AED 19.2 billion a year earlier
Revenue rose 6% to AED 145.4 billion (US$ 39.6 billion), compared with AED 137.3 billion in 2023‑24
EBITDA increased 6% to AED 42.2 billion (US$ 11.5 billion), demonstrating robust operating profitability
Cash assets reached AED 53.4 billion (US$ 14.6 billion), up 13% from AED 47.1 billion last year
Employees numbered 121,223, a 9% increase on the prior year

Airbus A380 ops poster child EK’s core airline business delivered its best-ever result:

Profit before tax soared 20% to AED 21.2 billion (US$ 5.8 billion)
Revenue grew 6% to AED 127.9 billion (US$ 34.9 billion)
Cash assets jumped 16% to AED 49.7 billion (US$ 13.5 billion)
Passengers carried increased 3% to 53.7 million, while available seat‑kilometres rose 4% to 359.5 billion ASKMs
Cargo volumes climbed 7% to 2.3 million tonnes

dnata, the Group’s ground‑handling and travel‑services arm, also posted record results:

Profit before tax edged up 2% to AED 1.6 billion (US$ 430 million)
Revenue rose 10% to AED 21.1 billion (US$ 5.8 billion)
EBITDA grew 10% to AED 2.6 billion (US$ 704 million)
Cargo handled jumped 9% to 3.1 million tonnes; aircraft turns increased 2% to 794,091

In light of these results, Emirates Group has declared a dividend of AED 6.0 billion (US$ 1.6 billion) to its shareholders, the Investment Corporation of Dubai.

This financial year marks the first to which the UAE’s 9% corporate tax, enacted in 2023, has applied. After accounting for this tax charge, the Group’s profit after tax stood at AED 20.5 billion (US$ 5.6 billion), up 10% year‑on‑year.

Outlook, Strategic Priorities

Emirates Group Chairman and CEO Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum commented, “Our record 2024‑25 performance reflects the resilience of our network, the strength of our brand and the loyalty of our customers. We continue to invest in fleet expansion, digital innovation and service excellence to capture growing demand across all markets.”

Key strategic focuses for 2025‑26 include:

Fleet renewal and growth—introducing next‑generation widebodies to reduce unit costs and carbon emissions.
Network expansion—adding new destinations in underserved markets and increasing frequencies on high‑yield routes.
Customer experience enhancements—rolling out biometric boarding, next‑level in‑flight entertainment, and expanded premium lounges.
Digital transformation—leveraging data analytics and AI to drive personalization, operational efficiency, and ancillary revenue growth.

With passenger demand rebounding strongly in the region and cargo markets firm, Emirates Group is well positioned to sustain profitable growth while continuing to deliver the high‑quality products and services that underpin its market leadership.

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