Emirates ranks among world’s best airlines for 2026 with top global entertainment award
Dubai carrier also sweeps major premium economy and family travel honours
DUBAI – Emirates has secured a place among the world’s top six airlines for 2026, while taking home the coveted global award for the best inflight entertainment.
The Dubai-based carrier was ranked sixth overall in the latest Skytrax World Airline Awards, putting it ahead of several major international competitors. It also collected a string of awards for its premium economy, First Class and family travel offerings.
The results were announced at a ceremony at The Langham hotel in London yesterday, with more than 300 airlines featuring in the awards. Singapore Airlines claimed the overall World’s Best Airline title, followed by Qatar Airways, Cathay Pacific Airways, ANA All Nippon Airways and Turkish Airlines.
Emirates shines
Emirates took the World’s Best Airline Inflight Entertainment title, finishing ahead of Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific Airways and Qatar Airways.
The Dubai carrier also secured the award for the World’s Best Premium Economy Class Airline Seat and World’s Best Premium Economy Class Onboard Catering. Its premium economy offering was ranked among the strongest globally, while its First Class product also featured prominently in the results.
Emirates was ranked fourth globally among the World’s Best First Class Airlines and claimed the second-place position for the World’s Best First Class Airline Seat.
The carrier also picked up several Middle East honours, including Best First Class Airline, Best Premium Economy Class Airline and Most Family Friendly Airline in the Middle East.
Gulf carriers
Emirates was not the only Gulf carrier to make a strong showing.
Qatar Airways finished second worldwide after holding the top position in 2025. The Doha-based airline won World’s Best Business Class for the 13th time and was named Best Airline in the Middle East for the 14th time.
Its Qsuite business class seat was also named the world’s best, while Al Mourjan Business Lounge at The Garden took the title of World’s Best Business Class Lounge. Qatar Airways additionally became the first airline to receive Skytrax’s newly introduced World’s Best Onboard Wi-Fi award.
Saudi Arabian Airlines, or Saudia, was ranked 15th globally and retained its title for Best Airline Staff in the Middle East. Etihad Airways placed 22nd worldwide.
In the regional ranking, Qatar Airways came first, followed by Emirates, Saudia and Etihad Airways. Flynas, Oman Air, Gulf Air, flydubai, Royal Jordanian Airlines and flyadeal completed the Middle East top 10.
World Airline Awards
The 2026 rankings were based on Skytrax’s global passenger satisfaction survey, which ran from September 2025 to August 2026. Travellers from more than 100 nationalities took part, with Skytrax saying submissions were screened to remove duplicate, suspicious and ineligible entries.
The World Airline Awards were launched in 1999 and are based on passenger voting. Skytrax says airlines do not pay survey entry or registration fees, while the organisation covers the costs of the survey and awards process.