On 25 January 2000, Emirates took off from Dubai International Airport headed for Bahrain. When the B777-200 landed, it marked a major milestone for the airline – its first flight to the country. Twenty years later, the route has gone from strength-to-strength, and since the first flight, more than 6.7 million passengers have flown with Emirates on the route to Dubai –four times the population of Bahrain.

Emirates continues to play an instrumental role in serving the skies and communities in Bahrain, helping passengers seamlessly connect to a network of over 150 global destinations. The airline has progressively grown its presence in the Kingdom, going from two daily flights to four daily services, as part of its commitment to delivering the best in terms of network, convenient schedules and onboard products and services to Bahraini travelers.

Adil Al Ghaith, Senior Vice President Commercial Operations for Gulf, Middle East and Central Asia said: “As we celebrate 20 years of service in Bahrain, a significant market in this region, we remain focused of delivering the best onboard experience possible for our Bahraini customers, and unparalleled connections through Dubai and beyond. The connectivity Emirates has provided has been, and continues to be pivotal for business and tourism in Bahrain – all helping to drive vital economic activity. We are proud to have served Bahrain for two decades and hope to continue growing our operations, sustaining our buoyant performance, and building a footprint of excellence in this market. The UAE and Bahrain have also enjoyed strong ties and mutual understanding, and we hope to continue to strengthen this positive relationship.”

Bahrain’s economy is one of the most diverse in the region, and Emirates helps to play an important role in supporting the country’s thriving trade relationship with the UAE, currently estimated at US$878 million in 2018. Emirates’ four daily flights, with a SkyCargo bellyhold capacity of up to 23 tonnes per flight on the Boeing 777-300ER, have helped to facilitate carriage of close to 130,000 tonnes of cargo to and from Bahrain over the last five years, transporting goods such as fruits, vegetables, meat, machinery and equipment. Emirates’ global network has also enabled local exporters to connect to both developed and emerging markets in the east.

76 Bahraini Nationals work at the Emirates Group, representing professions like flight deck, cabin crew, airport services, and many other roles. Over 47% of the Bahraini workforce at the Emirates Group have served for 10 years or longer, a testament to Emirates’ appeal as an employer.

Emirates is the world’s largest operator of the A380, with 115 in its fleet flying to 53 destinations across the globe. Emirates has flown its iconic A380 to Bahrain three times on one-off missions to cater to seasonal demand, becoming the first carrier to operate this aircraft to the Kingdom. The airline has also brought its flagship to the Kingdom to participate at the Bahrain International Airshow for three editions of the event, showcasing its signature products and services on this aircraft to trade and industry stakeholders, as well as the general public. The Emirates A380 has received over 20,000 visits over the course of the three airshows.

Emirates’ popular loyalty programme, Emirates Skywards, focuses on bringing members value, choice and flexibility, and today there close to 140,000 Bahraini members enrolled in the programme, benefitting from hotel stays as well as retail and lifestyle experiences supported by the airline. For a limited time, Skywards members based in Bahrain can benefit from Double Miles when they book flights between 27-30 January 2020 and complete travel on or before 30 November 2020.