Middle East’s best airline named by APEX

Emirates has secured the title of best airline in the Middle East in the 2026 Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX) Best in Airline Awards. The carrier last received the Middle East award in 2024, marking a return to the top spot after two years. 

 

The APEX rankings, unveiled during a ceremony in Dublin, Ireland, are based on anonymous passenger feedback from travellers worldwide, covering cabin service, seat comfort, WiFi and food and beverage. Ratings are collected across nearly 600 airlines globally. 

 

In addition to the regional honour, Emirates was also recognised for having the world’s best inflight entertainment, with its ice platform offering more than 6,500 channels across film, television, music and sport.

 

APEX Group CEO Dr Joe Leader said: “This year’s winners are turning passenger insights into meaningful innovation. By listening, adapting and investing, they are raising expectations, shaping the future of the onboard experience and setting new benchmarks for service and innovation across the industry.”

 

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Other regional winners include Etihad Airways for best food and beverage, Oman Air for best seat comfort and Saudia Airlines for best cabin service. Qatar Airways was recognised for its onboard WiFi, as the carrier continues its rollout of Starlink WiFi, being one of the first regional carriers to partner with the company. 

 

The recognition comes as Emirates continues its US$5 billion fleet retrofit programme, one of the largest cabin upgrade projects in the aviation industry.

 

As part of the upgrades, the airline recently introduced Starlink WiFi on its Airbus A380 aircraft, offering free high-speed connectivity in the air. Additional cabin upgrades include the implementation of Premium Economy class on its fleet. 

 

Currently, Emirates has updated more than 90 aircraft with a further 120 plus scheduled for renovations. 

 

For more information, visit apex.aero