KARACHI: The Emirates Group has posted record-breaking financial results for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2026, cementing its position as the world’s most profitable airline group even as military activity in the Gulf region severely disrupted operations in the final weeks of its financial year.
The group reported a pre-tax profit of AED 24.4 billion (USD 6.6 billion), a 7 percent increase year-on-year alongside record revenue of AED 150.5 billion (USD 41.0 billion) and a cash balance of AED 59.6 billion (USD 16.2 billion), up 12 percent from the previous year.
Emirates airline alone recorded a pre-tax profit of AED 22.8 billion (USD 6.2 billion), while its ground services and travel arm, dnata, delivered a record profit of AED 1.6 billion (USD 437 million) on revenues of AED 23.6 billion, up 12 percent.
The results came despite a major setback on 28 February, when military activity in the Gulf region caused widespread disruption to commercial air traffic, forcing Emirates and dnata to mobilise emergency operations to protect staff, assist passengers, and ensure business continuity.
Chairman and CEO HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum acknowledged the challenge, noting that the first 11 months of the financial year had been exceptionally strong, with the group surpassing targets month after month before the disruption hit.
The Group also declared a dividend of AED 3.5 billion (US$ 1.0 billion) to its owner, the Investment Corporation of Dubai, and invested AED 17.9 billion across new aircraft, facilities, and technology. Its global workforce expanded 8 percent to over 130,900 employees.
Despite an increase in the corporate tax rate from 9 percent to 15 percent under the new pillar two rules, the group’s after-tax profit stood at AED 21.0 billion (USD 5.7 billion), up 3 percent from the prior year.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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