Where do UAE carriers rank in the world’s safest airlines of 2025?
Air Arabia, flydubai rank among top 25 safest budget airlines
DUBAI: As global air travel rebounds and safety concerns dominate headlines, a new report by AirlineRatings.com has unveiled the world’s safest airlines for 2025 – placing several UAE carriers in top positions across both full-service and low-cost categories.
In a year marked by both recovery and tragedy in the aviation sector, the rankings arrive just weeks after the devastating Air India plane crash that killed 241 onboard and caused fatalities on the ground.
While the tragedy has reignited debate on airline safety, the latest data-driven analysis highlights which airlines continue to lead in protecting passengers.
World’s Safest Airlines
Air New Zealand claimed the top spot as the world’s safest full-service airline for 2025, narrowly edging out Qantas. The third position was shared in a three-way tie between Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Cathay Pacific. Etihad Airways came in fifth – reinforcing the UAE’s position as a global aviation leader.
The safety rankings assessed 385 airlines using stringent criteria such as fleet age, number of serious incidents, IOSA (IATA Operational Safety Audit) certification, ICAO audit results, financial stability, and pilot training practices.
AirlineRatings.com CEO Sharon Petersen noted: “The three-way tie for third place was because we simply could not separate these airlines. From fleet age to pilot skill, safety practices, fleet size, and number of incidents, their scores were identical.”
How are rankings determined?
Airline safety is evaluated based on a wide array of metrics. These include:
- Number of serious safety incidents in the past two years
- Age and size of the fleet
- Fatalities per million sectors flown
- IOSA and ICAO certifications
- Pilot training procedures and audit results
- Financial stability of the carrier
Context plays a crucial role. A smaller airline with just 100 aircraft experiencing three incidents is assessed more critically than a larger airline with 800 aircraft and six incidents. Additionally, carriers with failed safety audits or under financial distress are excluded from the top tier.
Safest Low-Cost Airlines
The rankings also named the Top 25 Safest Low-Cost Airlines for 2025, with HK Express taking the global lead. Among the Middle East’s budget carriers, flydubai and Air Arabia were recognised for their strong safety records and operational reliability.
flydubai, with its fleet of Boeing 737 aircraft, has expanded rapidly across the Middle East, Europe, and Asia, while maintaining strict maintenance and crew training standards. The Dubai-based airline continues to prioritise safety in its operational growth.
Air Arabia, headquartered in Sharjah, operates across the MENA region and parts of Asia, and is known for consistent safety compliance and a modern fleet. Its inclusion on the list affirms its commitment to safe, affordable travel.
Is flying still safe?
Despite isolated disasters, flying remains the safest mode of transport globally. A recent study found that between 2018 and 2022, the global death risk per flight boarding was just 1 in 13.7 million. In contrast, over 1.19 million people died in road traffic accidents in 2023 alone, according to WHO estimates.
Even with the spike in airline fatalities in December 2024, the aviation sector remains heavily regulated and continues to uphold the highest standards of safety and operational discipline.
To support informed decision-making, AirlineRatings.com has also launched a flight booking feature in partnership with Skyscanner, allowing passengers to filter results by safety rating as well as price and route.