Emirates Airlines Wins Prestigious Award For Exceptional Contribution To Connecting Africa With The World

Published on December 5, 2025

Emirates Airlines Triumphs with Travel Gold Award: Bridging Africa to the Global Stage

Emirates Airlines has been awarded the prestigious Travel Gold Award of Excellence, recognizing its remarkable contribution to connecting Africa to the world. This esteemed honor underscores the airline’s pivotal role in advancing African tourism, trade, and cultural exchange on a global scale.

A Momentous Achievement in African Tourism

The announcement of the award was made public through a statement shared with The PUNCH and was officially endorsed by Emirates’ Country Manager, Paulos Legesse. The award ceremony took place at the Africa Tourism & Creative Economy Expo in Abuja, Nigeria. The expo, organized in collaboration with Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, and Tourism, is one of the continent’s key events focused on promoting African tourism and culture globally. During this high-profile event, the Culture Meter was unveiled—a tool designed to track and evaluate the growth of Africa’s tourism sector and the effectiveness of ongoing initiatives aimed at improving the continent’s global tourism ranking.

The Travel Gold Award highlights Emirates’ ongoing dedication to Africa, not just as an airline, but as a long-term partner in the region’s development. The airline has invested heavily in Africa’s tourism and creative sectors, aligning its business interests with the continent’s vision of economic and cultural growth.

Strategic Partnerships with African Governments

The award is a testament to the airline’s consistent efforts to support and enhance Africa’s global connections. Emirates’ commitment is reflected in its expanding partnerships with various African governments and tourism agencies. Earlier this year, the airline took significant steps to broaden its ties with African tourism authorities, including collaborating with Nigeria’s Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism, and the Creative Economy. These efforts aim to enhance Nigeria’s position as a key global destination, encouraging an influx of international visitors and positioning the country as a central hub for tourism in Africa.

By facilitating stronger air connectivity, Emirates supports Nigeria’s broader tourism development strategy. This strategy focuses on improving the country’s tourism infrastructure, expanding its hospitality services, and providing enhanced access to global markets. The airline plays a crucial role in this development by operating regular flights between Nigeria and key global destinations, ensuring that business, leisure, education, and cultural exchanges can thrive between Africa and the world.

A Holistic Approach to Air Travel

Emirates does not just offer flights. The airline goes beyond merely transporting passengers by providing an exceptional and seamless travel experience. From luxurious onboard services to warm hospitality on the ground, Emirates ensures that passengers experience the highest level of comfort, no matter their destination. This commitment to quality service extends beyond the aircraft, offering passengers a world-class experience at every stage of their journey, whether they are departing from Lagos, Abuja, or any other African city served by Emirates.

Emirates’ strong focus on customer satisfaction and its dedication to offering unmatched connectivity between Africa and the rest of the world have made it an indispensable partner in shaping the future of global travel. With more than 150 destinations worldwide, Emirates offers Nigerian travelers unprecedented access to international markets, further solidifying its role as a bridge between Africa and the world.

“We remain deeply committed to our role as a gateway for Nigerian travelers, providing exceptional connections not just to the UAE but to over 150 destinations worldwide. This enables Nigerians to explore business, leisure, education, and cultural opportunities like never before,” said Emirates.

Recognition and Future Prospects

The Africa Tourism & Creative Economy Expo, which took place with the theme “Optimising Africa’s Comparative and Competitive Advantage for Accelerated Trade and Economic Growth”, provided a platform for the recognition of those contributing to the growth of the continent. Emirates was praised for its consistent role in setting new standards for international travel, particularly in the realm of regional tourism. The airline has played an instrumental part in opening doors for African nations to the wider world, offering unparalleled opportunities for economic growth and development through increased global tourism.

Chuks Akamadu, the CEO of Africultour Limited, commended Emirates for its outstanding achievements in regional tourism. He acknowledged the airline’s unwavering efforts to elevate the standard of international travel, which in turn plays a pivotal role in connecting Africa to the rest of the world.

Emirates’ commitment to Africa is not just about flying passengers from one destination to another—it is about building lasting partnerships, fostering cultural exchanges, and creating opportunities that allow Africa to thrive on the global stage. This recognition serves as proof that when global connectivity meets a focus on development, both the airline and the continent it serves can soar to new heights.

In conclusion, the Travel Gold Award of Excellence is not just a recognition for Emirates Airlines, but a celebration of Africa’s growing influence in the global tourism and trade sectors. Emirates will continue to pave the way for Africa’s future, ensuring that it is not only connected to the world but also a leading force in the global economy.