Emirates launches first travel store in Mauritius
Experiential hub unveiled in Port Louis as tourism partnership deepens
DUBAI: Emirates, the world’s largest international airline, has opened a cutting-edge Travel Store in Mauritius, reinforcing its commitment to the Indian Ocean destination.
Located at The Docks 2, United Docks Business Park in Port Louis, the 1,895-square-foot space was inaugurated with a symbolic cake-cutting ceremony attended by high-ranking government officials, dignitaries, and Emirates executives.
The event not only marked a new chapter in the airline's presence on the island but also celebrated the renewal of its strategic partnership with the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (MTPA). The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed during the ceremony, outlines Emirates and MTPA’s continued collaboration to showcase the island’s appeal to international travellers.
Immersive technology meets luxury travel
Emirates’ newly launched Travel Store is more than just a ticketing outlet—it is a destination in itself. Customers visiting the store can explore the airline’s inflight products and network of destinations through immersive technology, including self-service kiosks and a selfie mirror with iconic Emirates destination backdrops.
Trained staff provide on-the-spot personalised assistance with bookings, Skywards loyalty queries, and travel planning. Exclusive Emirates-branded merchandise and travel accessories are also available, making the space a hub for both inspiration and practicality.
“Our store reflects Emirates’ deep-rooted presence in Mauritius over the last 23 years,” said Adnan Kazim, Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer, Emirates. “It brings the Emirates experience to customers before they even board our aircraft.”
A renewed pledge to Mauritian tourism
At the same event, Emirates and the MTPA renewed their long-standing partnership through a formal MoU signing. The initiative, now in its 13th year, focuses on promoting Mauritius globally, especially in key markets like France, the UK, South Africa, and Germany.
Essa Sulaiman Ahmad, Emirates’ Senior Vice President for West Asia and the Indian Ocean, and Claire Le Lay, Chairperson of the MTPA, signed the MoU in the presence of the Honourable Shakeel Mohamed, Minister of Housing and Lands.
In 2024, tourist arrivals to Mauritius exceeded 1.3 million, with Emirates playing a critical role through its double daily A380 flights. These services alone generated Dh437 million in tourism receipts and Dh1.94 billion in total economic benefit to the island. Emirates’ operations have also helped support 3,600 local jobs.
Minister of Tourism, Honourable Richard Duval, hailed the renewed partnership as “a testament to our shared vision of sustainable tourism development.”
Strategic partnership with Air Mauritius
In a parallel development, Emirates and Air Mauritius renewed their longstanding codeshare and commercial cooperation agreement, which dates back to 2003 and was enhanced in 2013. The agreement allows both airlines to share codes on select routes and offers mutual benefits on their frequent flyer programmes.
Through this agreement, Air Mauritius places its code on Emirates flights to destinations including Cairo, Colombo, Karachi, Dammam, Jeddah, and Riyadh. Meanwhile, Emirates places its code on Air Mauritius flights to Antananarivo.
The partnership allows seamless connections for passengers and opens up Emirates’ global network of more than 128 destinations to Air Mauritius customers. It also includes cooperation on cargo handling services, adding value for Mauritian exporters and importers.
Adnan Kazim noted, “Our cooperation with Air Mauritius delivers mutual benefits and supports the country’s economic development through increased connectivity and employment opportunities.”
Since 2002, Emirates has transported over 8.8 million passengers and more than 126,000 tonnes of cargo to and from Mauritius. In 2025, it remains the only airline flying double-daily A380 services to the island, and the only one offering First Class cabins.
Earlier this year, Emirates commemorated Mauritius’ 57th Independence Day with a special A380 flight crewed entirely by Mauritian nationals – symbolising the deep ties between the airline and the island nation.