Emirates is accelerating into 2026 with a sweeping set of initiatives that underscore its ambition to redefine premium travel far beyond the aircraft cabin.

From unveiling the world’s first Ritz-Carlton Lodge deep within Australia’s Greater Blue Mountains, to expanding chauffeur-driven airport transfers in Japan, strengthening connectivity across Africa through new airline partnerships, and enhancing customer loyalty and onboard dining experiences, the Dubai-based airline is reinforcing its positioning as a global leader in integrated, high-end travel, Emirates media reports conveyed.

Read more-Emirates carries 55.6 million passengers in 2025

Taken together, the developments highlight a broader strategy at play: Emirates is investing simultaneously in destination-led tourism, premium ground services, global connectivity, customer rewards, and evolving passenger preferences around wellness and sustainability.

For travellers, investors, and industry watchers alike, the moves point to an airline that sees its future not only in flying passengers between cities, but in shaping the entire journey, from doorstep to destination, and from farm to fork.

Below is a closer look at the key developments that define Emirates’ latest chapter.

1-A world-first luxury play: Emirates and Marriott bring the Ritz-Carlton lodge to Australia

Emirates and Marriott International have signed an agreement to open Emirates Wolgan Valley, a Ritz-Carlton Lodge, marking the first Ritz-Carlton Lodge globally and a significant milestone for luxury tourism in regional New South Wales.

Set within a 7,000-acre conservation reserve in Australia’s Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage area, the 40-key all-inclusive lodge is expected to open in mid-2026. Designed as a purpose-built sanctuary in nature, the property aims to combine refined luxury with minimal environmental impact, drawing on the Ritz-Carlton brand’s service ethos while reflecting the surrounding wilderness.

Since 2006, Emirates has invested $150m Australian Dollars in the Wolgan Valley Resort, including the restoration of historically significant structures such as the original 1832 homestead and the planting of more than one million native trees. The airline is now committing an additional $50m Australian Dollars, in collaboration with Marriott, to transform the property into a flagship Ritz-Carlton Lodge experience.

The lodge will occupy less than two percent of the protected wilderness, offering guests rare access to pristine landscapes, native wildlife including bare-nosed wombats and brush-tailed rock wallabies, and some of the clearest night skies in the world. Guests will arrive via four-wheel drive through the Donkey Steps or by helicopter, reinforcing the sense of exclusivity and immersion.

Beyond tourism, the project is positioned as a regional economic catalyst, with the potential to recreate nearly 150 local jobs and expand opportunities for local suppliers. Emirates has maintained a locally employed workforce even during periods when the property was nonoperational following road closures in 2023.

Sir Tim Clark, president of Emirates Airline, described the lodge as both an extraordinary destination for discerning travellers and a powerful engine for local economic growth, reinforcing Emirates’ long-standing commitment to Australia.

The lodge will complement The Ritz-Carlton’s existing Australian portfolio, which includes properties in Perth and Melbourne.

2-Premium on the ground: Emirates expands chauffeur-drive service in Japan

Emirates is extending its signature chauffeur-drive service in Japan, further elevating the premium ground experience for First Class and Business Class customers.

From February 1, 2026, the service will be available at Narita International Airport, followed by Kansai International Airport from March 1, 2026. These additions complement the existing Chauffeur-Drive offering at Haneda Airport, making Emirates the only international airline to provide such a service across Japan.

The complimentary door-to-door service covers up to 100 kilometres per journey and allows customers to travel seamlessly between the airport and their home, hotel, or office. Coverage includes Tokyo’s 23 wards and surrounding prefectures for Narita, and Osaka City along with parts of Nara, Kyoto, Hyogo, and Osaka prefectures for Kansai.

Any additional mileage beyond the allowance is charged directly to customers, while bookings can be managed through emirates.com or the Emirates contact centre. At Narita, the service is complemented by access to Emirates’ airport lounge in Terminal 2.

The expansion aligns with Emirates’ broader strategy to ensure premium travellers receive consistent service standards on the ground as well as in the air, reinforcing its presence in a key Asia-Pacific market.

For more information on Emirates’ Chauffeur-Drive service, visit here

3-Strengthening African connectivity: Emirates and Air Peace activate interline agreement

Emirates has activated a bilateral interline agreement with Nigeria-based Air Peace, significantly enhancing connectivity between Africa, the UAE, and the UK.

The agreement enables single-ticket travel with through-checked baggage across select routes, expanding access to destinations including Banjul, Dakar, Freetown, and Monrovia via regional hubs. It also deepens connections between Air Peace’s West and Central African network and Emirates’ global hub in Dubai.

For Emirates, the partnership expands its African footprint while supporting tourism and trade in the region. For Air Peace, it offers passengers greater access to international markets, including key UK gateways such as London Heathrow, Gatwick, and Stansted.

Passengers on the Dubai–Lagos route will continue to experience Emirates’ Boeing 777-300ER, featuring First Class cabins, regionally inspired dining, and over 6,500 entertainment channels on the ice system.

Both airlines positioned the agreement as a strategic step toward improving intra-African and global connectivity, reinforcing aviation’s role in economic development.

4- Loyalty as leverage: Emirates Skywards partners with Jet2.com

Emirates Skywards has expanded its UK footprint through a new partnership with Jet2.com, enabling members to redeem Skywards Miles for flights to more than 75 leisure destinations.

Starting from 8,000 Miles, members can book Jet2.com flights across Europe, the Mediterranean, North Africa, and the Canary Islands. Redemptions also extend beyond airfare to include meals, baggage, and seat selection.

The partnership strengthens Skywards’ appeal in its largest global market, the UK, where millions of members can now pair long-haul Emirates journeys with short-haul leisure travel.

Examples include redeeming Miles earned on Emirates flights to Sydney or Dubai for Jet2.com trips to destinations such as Majorca or Salzburg.

With over 37 million members worldwide, Emirates Skywards continues to expand its partner network across airlines, hotels, retail, and lifestyle offerings.

5- From Veganuary to 2027: Emirates reimagines Vegan cuisine

Emirates is shifting its approach to vegan dining, focusing on minimally processed, plant-forward cuisine rooted in global culinary traditions. New dishes currently in development are expected to launch onboard in 2027.

The airline now serves half a million vegan meals annually and offers 488 vegan recipes across 140 destinations, a 60 per cent increase since 2024. Demand continues to grow, particularly on routes to London, Sydney, Bangkok, and Melbourne.

The new philosophy emphasises legumes, grains, vegetables, and seasonal produce, with ingredients sourced in part from Bustanica, the world’s largest hydroponic vertical farm. Vegan options are available across all cabin classes and in Emirates’ lounges, including its flagship facilities at Dubai International Airport.

From Economy to First Class, Emirates is positioning plant-based dining not as a substitute, but as a premium culinary experience aligned with sustainability and wellness trends.

A new scam circulating around is raising concerns among cybersecurity professionals and financial institutions, not because it relies on phishing links or fake emails, but because it exploits something far more basic: physical access to a smartphone.

The scam typically begins with a seemingly harmless request from a stranger asking to borrow a phone for a quick call. Once the device is handed over, the individual quietly activates call and, in some cases, SMS forwarding in the background. From that point on, sensitive information such as one-time passwords (OTPs), bank alerts and account verification codes can be redirected to another number without the owner’s knowledge.

Security specialists warn that the attack is particularly dangerous because it bypasses many of the digital red flags consumers and businesses have been trained to watch for. There are no suspicious links, no spoofed emails and no urgent payment requests. Instead, the compromise happens in seconds, offline, and often goes unnoticed until financial or account damage has already occurred.

The technique relies on built-in phone features rather than malware. Call forwarding can be enabled through device settings or by dialing *21* followed by a destination number and the # key. While SMS forwarding often requires carrier-specific services, call diversion alone can be enough to intercept OTP-based authentication, which remains widely used across banking, fintech and enterprise platforms.

The technique relies on built-in phone features rather than malware. Call forwarding can be enabled through device settings or by dialing *21* followed by a destination number and the # key. While SMS forwarding often requires carrier-specific services, call diversion alone can be enough to intercept OTP-based authentication, which remains widely used across banking, fintech and enterprise platforms.

Telecom experts advise users to immediately dial ##002# if their phone has been out of their possession, as this universal command cancels all call and SMS forwarding. Even without a suspected incident, users are encouraged to dial the code proactively to ensure no forwarding has been activated.

New research

The emergence of this tactic comes against a backdrop of persistently high scam activity in the UAE. New research by the Global Anti-Scam Alliance, conducted in partnership with Trend Micro, shows that seven in ten UAE residents have encountered a scam, with the average individual facing one scam attempt every three days.

According to the study of 1,000 UAE residents, more than half experienced at least one scam in the past year, with affected individuals targeted an average of 2.8 times annually. Shopping scams remain the most common, affecting 70 per cent of victims, followed by investment scams at 67 per cent and unexpected money scams at 66 per cent. One in three residents reported financial losses, although nearly half were able to recover at least part of the money through payment service providers.

The sheer volume of scam encounters is also straining reporting systems. While 79 per cent of victims reported at least one incident, half said no action was taken or they were unsure of the outcome. The most common reason for not reporting was the absence of financial loss, cited by more than half of respondents, highlighting the challenge of capturing early-stage or attempted fraud.

Beyond financial impact, scams are also affecting wellbeing and workplace confidence. Two thirds of victims reported feeling stressed during the experience, while over half said the incident had a moderate to significant impact on their mental wellbeing. For employers, this raises broader concerns around employee distraction, productivity loss and susceptibility to future attacks.

Despite the risks, awareness levels in the UAE remain high. Nearly all respondents said they take steps to verify whether an offer is legitimate, such as checking email domains or searching for external reviews. However, experts warn that as scam tactics become more personalised and increasingly AI-driven, awareness alone is no longer sufficient.

“Online scams have unfortunately become a persistent part of consumers’ digital experiences, not only in the UAE but worldwide,” said Frank Kuo, chief consumer business officer at Trend Micro. “As scammers increasingly employ AI to create more personalised and persuasive scams, a greater focus on prevention has never been more paramount.”

Jorij Abraham, managing director of the Global Anti-Scam Alliance, added that criminals are adapting faster than individual consumers can respond, reinforcing the need for deeper collaboration between platforms, financial institutions and authorities to reduce exposure and limit harm.

For businesses, the rise of low-tech, high-impact scams such as call-forwarding abuse underscores the importance of strengthening multi-factor authentication beyond SMS, reinforcing employee awareness around physical device security, and reviewing incident-response processes that account for offline attack vectors.

As scam methods continue to evolve, the latest threat serves as a reminder that cybersecurity risks are no longer confined to screens and inboxes, but increasingly hinge on everyday human interactions and trust.

Read: Job seekers beware: Dubai Police warn of work visa scams

Recent earnings from Meta Platforms, Microsoft and Tesla highlight how the world’s largest technology companies are doubling down on artificial intelligence, even as they face differing pressures on margins, capital expenditure and investor expectations, according to eToro.

Meta delivered a strong earnings beat, with fourth-quarter revenue rising 24 per cent year on year and first-quarter guidance coming in well ahead of market expectations. The performance underscored resilient advertising demand and improving AI-driven monetisation. Daily active users across Meta’s Family of Apps increased 7 per cent to 3.58 billion, while ad pricing rose 6 per cent during the quarter.

Commenting on the results, Zavier Wong, market analyst at eToro, said Meta’s aggressive AI push is becoming increasingly evident, with 2026 capital expenditure guided at $115–135bn as the company builds out infrastructure and talent around its superintelligence labs. He added that for investors previously cautious following the Metaverse investment cycle, management’s expectation that operating income will grow again in 2026 suggests this phase of spending is being driven by tangible demand and supported by Meta’s core advertising engine.

Microsoft also reported a solid quarter, beating expectations on both revenue and operating income. Revenue rose 17 per cent to $81.3bn, while Azure growth of 38 per cent confirmed sustained enterprise demand for cloud and AI services. Microsoft Cloud revenue surpassed $50bn for the first time.

Despite the strong results, Microsoft shares slipped in after-hours trading as investors focused on record quarterly capital expenditure of $37.5bn, which exceeded forecasts.

Wong noted that capital expenditure remains the primary concern for investors, with questions around margin pressure and the pace at which large-scale AI investments translate into monetisation. He added that while Microsoft’s close relationship with OpenAI reinforces its leadership in enterprise AI, it also introduces concentration risk. For now, Microsoft appears to be investing to meet existing demand rather than speculating on future growth, suggesting investors may need to exercise patience.

Tesla’s performance was more mixed. Revenue declined 3 per cent year on year, marking the company’s first annual revenue contraction in 2025, driven by lower vehicle deliveries and reduced regulatory credit income. Adjusted earnings per share exceeded expectations, and gross margins recovered to just over 20 per cent, easing some concerns around pricing pressure and cost control in its core automotive business.

According to Wong, Tesla’s valuation is increasingly influenced by its long-term ambitions rather than near-term vehicle performance. The $2bn investment in xAI, alongside developments in robotaxi services, Optimus humanoid robotics and energy storage, reinforces Tesla’s positioning as an AI, robotics and autonomy platform. However, he cautioned that vehicle revenues are declining, free cash flow remains under pressure, and many of these future initiatives are capital intensive and uncertain, widening the gap between current fundamentals and long-term expectations.

Read: TSMC earnings in focus as AI chip demand drives margins higher

Apple is quietly laying the groundwork for one of its most consequential product cycles in years, with early leaks and reports around the iPhone 18 revealing notable design changes, significant camera upgrades, and a careful approach to pricing amid supply chain pressures.

At the same time, the company is accelerating its artificial intelligence roadmap with a major Siri overhaul and expanding its ecosystem through updated accessories such as the new AirTag, reinforcing Apple’s strategy of combining hardware, software, and services into a tightly integrated business model.

Taken together, these developments point to Apple’s broader objective for 2026: delivering visible innovation without disrupting its pricing structure, while deepening user engagement across its devices and platforms.

iPhone 18 design changes signal a shift on the front

The most obvious update to the iPhone 18 is expected on the front of the device. Apple has relied on a pill-shaped cutout for several years, but leaked renders and videos now suggest that this area could finally shrink. Reports indicate that Apple is testing Face ID components placed under the display, reducing the visible cutout to a single hole.

Read more-iPhone 18 and foldable iPhone: What the rumors say about features, launch dates

In leaked visuals, the front camera appears positioned near the top-left corner instead of the centre, a layout that would mark a noticeable departure from the current iPhone design language, an India Today report conveyed.

While Apple is not expected to eliminate Dynamic Island altogether, leaks suggest the company plans to make it less prominent. Rather than dominating the top of the screen, Dynamic Island could sit closer to the front camera, making it less distracting during everyday use while still supporting live activities and familiar animations.

On the rear, Apple appears to be sticking with a more conservative approach. The iPhone 18 Pro models are likely to retain a triple-camera setup housed in a raised module. However, small visual refinements are expected, including changes to the texture of the back glass and how it pairs with the aluminium frame. Reports also suggest Apple is testing darker colour options such as deep purple, burgundy, and coffee-like brown for the Pro lineup, signaling a subtle refresh rather than a dramatic redesign.

Camera upgrades could be a key differentiator

While the exterior changes may be evolutionary, the camera system is expected to receive more substantial upgrades. Leaks suggest Apple is experimenting with a variable aperture system for the main camera. Unlike current iPhones, which rely heavily on software processing to manage light and background blur, a mechanical aperture would allow the lens to adjust light intake on its own.

Such a system could result in more natural-looking photos, particularly in low-light environments. However, reports indicate this feature may be limited to the iPhone 18 Pro Max rather than being available across both Pro models.

Another possible improvement involves a new three-layer stacked image sensor reportedly sourced from Samsung. This sensor is expected to deliver faster readout speeds, reduced noise, and improved dynamic range. Both the main and telephoto cameras are also said to feature larger apertures, which could enhance night photography and video recording performance.

Apple faces memory cost pressures ahead of iPhone 18 launch

Beyond design and features, Apple is navigating a challenging supply chain environment as it prepares for the iPhone 18 launch. According to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, DRAM shortages are expected to impact smartphone manufacturers in 2026, with Apple facing higher memory costs as a result.

Kuo notes that Apple negotiates memory prices with suppliers on a quarterly basis, meaning price increases are expected in the second quarter of 2026. Estimates suggest memory prices are already up between 10 and 25 per cent compared to last year, a Mac Rumors report said. Apple has already absorbed similar increases earlier, and the company is expected to address these cost pressures during its January 30 earnings call covering the first fiscal quarter of 2026.

Despite rising component costs, Kuo expects Apple to avoid raising prices “as much as possible.” At a minimum, the starting price of the iPhone 18 models is expected to remain flat. Apple has taken a similar approach in the past, keeping the base iPhone 17 price at $799 while increasing the price of the Pro model due to higher minimum storage requirements.

Other components, including LPDDR and NAND memory, are also facing shortages as chipmakers prioritise advanced memory for AI servers over smartphones. This has led to speculation that smartphone prices could rise across multiple brands, even as Apple works to shield consumers from the full impact.

Siri set for major AI overhaul as Apple plays catch-up

Hardware improvements are only one side of Apple’s 2026 strategy. On the software front, the company is preparing a major overhaul of Siri, turning the digital assistant into its first full-fledged AI chatbot, according to a Bloomberg News report cited by Reuters.

The revamped assistant, code-named Campos, will be deeply embedded into the iPhone, iPad, and Mac operating systems and will replace the current Siri interface. The move is seen as a critical step in Apple’s efforts to catch up with Big Tech rivals in the AI race after its initial “Apple Intelligence” rollout in 2024 received a lukewarm response.

Earlier this month, Apple struck a deal with Google to use its Gemini models to power Siri, marking a significant partnership between the two companies. Campos is expected to run a higher-end version of the custom Google model, comparable to Gemini 3, internally referred to as Apple Foundation Models version 11.

The chatbot will support both voice and typing-based interactions and is expected to roll out later this year as part of Apple’s upcoming operating systems. Separately, reports indicate Apple is also developing an AI-powered wearable pin equipped with cameras, microphones, a speaker, and wireless charging, with a potential release as early as 2027.

New AirTag expands Apple’s ecosystem play

Apple is also strengthening its accessories lineup, unveiling a new AirTag on January 26 with expanded connectivity range and improved findability.

Powered by Apple’s second-generation Ultra Wideband chip, the new AirTag offers Precision Finding from up to 50 per cent farther away and features a louder speaker, making it easier to locate misplaced items.

The accessory integrates deeply with Apple’s Find My network, which uses a crowdsourced network of Apple devices to help users locate lost belongings while maintaining privacy protections. For the first time, Precision Finding is available on Apple Watch Series 9 or later and Apple Watch Ultra 2 or later, extending the experience beyond the iPhone.

Apple has also expanded its Share Item Location feature, partnering with more than 50 airlines to help recover delayed or lost luggage. According to SITA, airlines using the feature have reduced baggage delays by 26 percent and unrecoverable luggage incidents by 90 percent.

The new AirTag maintains the same price as its predecessor at $29 for a single unit and $99 for a four-pack, aligning with Apple’s broader strategy of delivering incremental improvements without raising prices. The accessory also supports Apple’s environmental goals, featuring recycled materials and fiber-based packaging.

Khansaheb Group has reinforced its position as one of the UAE’s most influential construction and engineering groups with the acquisition of ANABEEB from EMSTEEL Building Materials. The move expands the group’s industrial footprint and strengthens its ability to deliver integrated, sustainable infrastructure solutions across the region.

With a legacy spanning more than 90 years, Khansaheb Group has evolved into a diversified, fourth-generation family enterprise operating across key segments of the built environment. Its portfolio includes Khansaheb Civil Engineering, the UAE’s longest-established contractor; Khansaheb Facilities Management, which delivers end-to-end FM services across multiple industries; and Khansaheb Industries, focused on innovative and sustainability-led HVAC solutions.

Beyond construction and engineering, the group has expanded into property management, bespoke luxury contracting, aviation safety and emergency procedures training, healthcare through its affiliation with Clemenceau Medical Centre, and sustainability initiatives via Khansaheb Sustainability, which develops environmentally focused solutions aligned with the UAE’s long-term climate goals.

The acquisition of ANABEEB adds a new industrial dimension to this ecosystem. ANABEEB is an infrastructure manufacturer specialising in end-to-end PVC and GRP industrial pipe solutions, supporting water, wastewater, irrigation and industrial networks. The company operates the largest CC-GRP pipe production facility in the region and manufactures CC-GRP pipes, PVC-U pipes and fittings, LD-PE pipes for drip irrigation systems, and multi-wall paper sacks for building materials.

ANABEEB’s manufacturing facility is designed for high performance and durability, featuring four production lines with a combined annual capacity of 33,000 metric tonnes. The integration of these capabilities enhances Khansaheb Group’s ability to offer fully integrated infrastructure solutions, combining manufacturing, construction, engineering and facilities management expertise under one platform.

Commenting on the acquisition, Abdulrahman Khansaheb, managing director of Khansaheb Group, said, “Guided by passion and purpose, Khansaheb Group has always focused on creating solutions and services that transform businesses and support the UAE’s ambitions for future-focused development. The introduction of ANABEEB strengthens our end-to-end infrastructure capabilities and reinforces our position as a regional leader in delivering advanced solutions.”

He added, “Building on the expertise within our group, including Khansaheb Civil Engineering and Khansaheb Facilities Management, the new subsidiary allows us to offer advanced piping and infrastructure solutions with the same quality, innovation, and reliability that our clients and partners have come to know and trust.”

Reflecting on the transaction, Eng. Saeed Ghumran Al Remeithi, group CEO of EMSTEEL, said: “This transaction reflects our strategic focus on optimising our portfolio and accelerating value creation by concentrating on our core industrial priorities. We are confident that ANABEEB will continue to grow and thrive under Khansaheb Group, supported by its strong capabilities and long-term vision for infrastructure excellence.”

The acquisition marks another milestone in Khansaheb Group’s long-term growth strategy, reinforcing its focus on scale, capability and sustainable value creation. As ANABEEB is integrated into the group, it is expected to play a central role in supporting major infrastructure projects and advancing sustainable development across the UAE and wider GCC.

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