40 years of Dubai-Cairo flights. Photo: Emirates Emirates has marked 40 years of operations in Egypt with a gala dinner at Cairo’s Grand Egyptian Museum, highlighting its growth from three weekly flights to five daily services between Dubai and Cairo.
The airline began flying to Cairo in April 1986, less than a year after its launch. Egypt was the first market in the Middle East and Africa to join its network.
Today, Emirates operates five daily flights between Dubai and Cairo using a mix of Airbus A380 and Boeing 777 aircraft. Over four decades, it has carried more than 13.2 million passengers on nearly 50,000 flights between the two cities.
40 years of Dubai-Cairo flights. Photo: EmiratesThe anniversary event brought together Egyptian government and aviation officials, tourism representatives, travel industry partners and senior Emirates executives. Attendees included Egypt’s Vice Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Yomna El Bahar; Egyptian Civil Aviation Authority President Sameh Fawzy; and Cairo Airport Company Chairman and CEO Magdy Ishak Azzer.
Emirates was represented by Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer Adnan Kazim, along with other senior executives. The evening included performances by violinist and composer Jihad Akl, Karen Daniel and her jazz band, and Egyptian singer Ahmed Saad. The airline also recognized leading Egyptian travel agency partners for their contributions to its business.
40 years of Dubai-Cairo flights. Photo: Emirates“Egypt holds a special place in the Emirates story,” Kazim said, pointing to the airline’s long-standing ties with the country and its role in connecting Egypt with the UAE and international markets.
Through its Dubai hub, Emirates connects travelers from Egypt to nearly 140 destinations across six continents. Popular destinations include Kuala Lumpur, Taipei, Seoul, Osaka and Hong Kong, alongside Dubai.
The airline also supports Egypt’s tourism ambitions, as the country aims to attract 30 million visitors annually by 2028. Better air links are expected to help facilitate travel from international markets.
Emirates SkyCargo has also transported more than 170,000 tonnes of imports and exports between Cairo and international markets over the past five years, using cargo capacity in the holds of passenger aircraft.
Egyptian exports carried by the airline include fresh fruit and vegetables, seafood and other perishable goods. Grapes, guavas, mangoes and strawberries are among the products shipped abroad, with the strawberry export season running from November through March. Key markets include the Middle East, Europe and East Asia. Imports into Egypt include electronics, pharmaceuticals and general cargo.
Emirates has continued to develop its services for customers traveling to and from Egypt. Passengers departing from Cairo can use the airline’s lounge at Cairo International Airport, which opened in 2018.
The airline also opened an Emirates World retail store in Cairo in January 2025, offering travel advice and information about its products, as well as booking services.
The anniversary comes as the Grand Egyptian Museum, where the gala was held, adds to Cairo’s tourism offering. Emirates said it sees further opportunities to support travel growth and connectivity as Egypt develops its tourism sector.