Emirates opened Arabian Travel Market 2026 with a wave of partnership signings, cementing seven Memoranda of Understanding with tourism boards and commercial partners spanning the Indian Ocean, Europe, Southeast Asia and the UAE.
The airline renewed its longstanding tie-up with the Seychelles Tourism Board and Ministry of Tourism and Culture, a relationship dating back to 2013, as visitor arrivals climbed 13 percent to nearly 400,000 last year. A similar renewal with the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority builds on more than two decades of cooperation, with Middle East arrivals to the island nation up 10.5 percent in the first half of 2026.
In Madagascar, Emirates will work with the Ministry of Tourism and Handicrafts to support the country's goal of attracting one million tourists by 2028 through joint advertising and trade familiarisation trips.
Closer to home, Emirates renewed its partnership with the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority, signed by Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer Adnan Kazim and SCTDA Chairman Khalid Jasim Al Midfa. Al Midfa called the deal a strategic step in advancing Sharjah's tourism agenda and expanding access to high-value markets.
Emirates also signed a one-year agreement with Tourism Malaysia backing the Visit Malaysia 2026 to 2027 campaign, and a new MoU with Visit Finland ahead of the airline's October launch of flights to Helsinki, which will offer the only year-round connectivity between Finland and the UAE. A separate agreement with Fjord Norway targets growth in Western Norway.
Beyond tourism, Emirates renewed its strategic partnership with Huawei to deepen digital engagement in China, and signed a new agreement with Dubai Duty Free offering passengers exclusive retail offers at Terminal 3, reinforcing Dubai's position as a global aviation and tourism hub.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
