After a 12-Year Hiatus: Emirates Lands in Damascus with Three Weekly Flights

Emirates resumes flights to Damascus. July 16, 2025, marked a historic day in regional aviation as Emirates resumed flights to Damascus for the first time since suspending the route in 2012, as first reported by Passport News last month.

The inaugural flight, EK913, departed Dubai at 13:25 and landed at 14:30 at the Syrian capital's international airport, receiving a traditional water salute and official ceremony upon arrival.

On board the first flight was a senior delegation from the Emirates, led by Dr. Ahmed Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of Sport and Chairman of the United Arab Emirates' Space Agency. Accompanying him were senior executives from Emirates, including Chief Operating Officer Adel Al Redha, Senior Vice President of External Relations Sheikh Majid Al Mualla, and Chief Commercial Officer Adel Al Ghaith.

The welcoming ceremony also included Syrian officials such as Hassan Ahmed Alshahi, UAE Ambassador to Syria, representatives of the Civil Aviation Authority and airport staff, along with local and foreign media.

Damascus. Photo: Shutterstock

Adel Al Ghaith stated, "Today marks a significant milestone as Emirates resumes flights to Damascus. This renewed connection will help reunite families, friends, and communities who have long awaited easier access to their loved ones. The UAE and Syria have enjoyed strong bilateral ties for years, and Syria has always been an important market for us since 1988. We hope to be a catalyst for the revival of tourism, trade, and investments in the country, connecting Damascus to about 150 destinations worldwide. We thank the authorities in the UAE and Syria and the Civil Aviation Authority for the collaboration that made this possible."

The strategic importance of the move was also highlighted by the Syrian side. Ala Salal, Head of Public Relations at Syria's Civil Aviation Authority, said, "The teams in Syria and the UAE worked with great dedication and close coordination to meet all requirements to bring Emirates back. It demonstrates the depth of cooperation and commitment to strengthening economic ties and brotherhood between the countries."

Initially – three flights a week, later daily

Emirates announced it will initially operate three weekly flights to Damascus on Sundays, Mondays, and Wednesdays. Starting August 2, an additional flight will be added on Saturdays, and from October 26, the airline plans to operate a daily route between Dubai and Damascus.

Flights are operated using Boeing 777-200LR aircraft, featuring 38 Business Class seats in a 2-2-2 configuration and 264 Economy Class seats.

Emirates emphasizes that passengers on the Damascus route will enjoy its renowned service, including a rich culinary experience featuring local Syrian mezze dishes made with ingredients like tahini, red pepper puree, and Syrian olive oil.
In-flight entertainment offers over 6,500 channels, including 41 popular Syrian TV series, and 380 Arabic movies, featuring 51 new premieres.

Collaboration with flydubai

Passengers on the Damascus route will also benefit from convenient combination flights with flydubai as part of the two airlines' codeshare agreement, providing greater connectivity and flexible scheduling.

Emirates operated flights to Damascus from 1988 until their suspension in 2012.

Since then, there have been gradual diplomatic engagements between the parties, with the current resumption reflecting a political and economic rapprochement between the UAE and Syria.