Festive fare across all classes onboard Emirates. Photo: Emirates Yesterday, we reported on Emirates’ new NBA-inspired menu, including themed desserts and drinks, in celebration of the upcoming Emirates NBA Cup on December 16. However, this is not the airline’s only exciting menu launch to keep an eye on.
The giant is now leaning all the way into the holiday mood this December, adding small, thoughtful Christmas touches almost everywhere you look, in anticipation of the millions of travellers that will pass through its network over the next few weeks.
On board, the theme is classic Christmas food, but with a more polished twist depending on the cabin. All customers can sip festive hot chocolate from December 17-26. From December 24–26, passengers leaving Dubai get a small seasonal treat: dark chocolate truffles in Economy, gingerbread cookies in Premium Economy and Business, and a raspberry Paris-Brest in First.
Onboard Premium Economy. Photo: EmiratesIn the premium cabins, the holiday menu leans into rich flavours. Starters range from salmon gravadlax marinated in beetroot and orange to pickled herring with potato and quail egg salad.
The main dishes echo a traditional holiday dinner, including turkey with stuffing, truffle potato gratin, chestnuts, and Brussels sprouts. On some routes, chefs have added dishes like herb-crusted lamb shank, duck confit glazed in cranberry jus lié, or seared venison with sage butter and blackberry sauce.
First Class passengers also get a playful extra: an edible Santa made from strawberries and cream.
Economy Class travellers aren’t left out. They’ll have roasted turkey with chestnut and turkey bacon roulade, followed by fruit cake or a small mousse cake shaped like one of Santa’s reindeer.
The A380 Onboard Lounge adds another layer of celebration, offering mince pies, stollen, ginger profiteroles, festive macarons, and more. There’s even a Christmas sandwich loaded with turkey, roast beef, cheddar, and cranberry sauce. Passengers can also grab new seasonal selfie props for a holiday photo.
In Dubai’s First and Business lounges, the food spreads from December 15–31 with a focus on turkey with all the usual sides, plus seasonal cocktails and a Champagne lineup that includes Moët & Chandon Ice Brut and Ice Rosé.
Cocktails aboard Emirates. Photo: Emirates The dessert table sticks to classics like stollen, mince pies, and apple pie with cinnamon ice cream. Lounge guests can also order gingerbread lattes or Galaxy hot chocolate.
Christmas hot chocolate onboard Emirates. Photo: EmiratesLounges around the world will feature their own regional takes on Christmas dishes.
Wine lovers get something special, too. Emirates is pouring rare bottles in First Class throughout December. That includes Dom Pérignon Plénitude 2, 2006, a vintage known for notes of tangerine peel, apricot, white pepper, passionfruit, and mint.
Two more standout wines join it: Montrachet Grand Cru 2013 – Bouchard & Fils and Château Montrose 2005. Business Class and Premium Economy each have their own curated lists as well, from Bordeaux to Chablis to sparkling Chandon Vintage Brut 2018.
Emirates celebrates Orthodox Christmas onboard in all classes. Photo: EmiratesTravellers marking Orthodox Christmas will also find dedicated menus from December 24 to 8 January on flights between Russia, Cyprus, Ethiopia, and Dubai. Starters include Olivier salad, lobster tail with celeriac purée and Sevruga caviar, or smoked salmon with crab mayonnaise, followed by dishes like duck confit with cranberry jus lié and herb-crusted lamb shank.
Economy passengers will see familiar favourites like Russian potato salad and creamy beef stroganoff, with peppermint mousse or fruit cake for dessert.
Entertainment gets a holiday update as well. Flyers can choose from 39 Christmas movies, from new releases like Tinsel Town and Dear Santa to long-time favourites like Elf, The Holiday, The Polar Express and even the 1964 version of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.
Emirates customers can get into the holiday spirit with festive entertainment on ice. Photo: EmiratesThere are also 42 Christmas specials and a big collection of seasonal music, including Sam Smith, Elvis Presley and Ella Fitzgerald.
Those looking for a last-minute gift can browse more than 300 items in the EmiratesRED Winter 2025 catalogue. Pre-ordering is available on most flights, and early shoppers get 10% off with the code RED10. The Emirates Official Store is also selling a holiday-themed capsule collection with jumpers, family pyjamas, and Christmas accessories.
Finally, there’s a chance to do something meaningful. Through “You Donate, Emirates Doubles,” the airline will match passenger donations to the Emirates Airline Foundation up to $10,000 per contribution. Donations can be made in any currency on board or from home, using cash, card, cheque, Skywards miles, or bank transfer.