FlyDubai has demonstrated strong financial performance once again in its fiscal year ending December 31, 2025, achieving a pre-tax profit of 2.2 billion dirhams (about $591 million).
Total revenue rose to 13.6 billion dirhams (approximately $3.7 billion), marking a growth of 6% compared to 12.8 billion dirhams ($3.5 billion) in 2024.
The airline’s net profit after tax stood at 1.9 billion dirhams (around $531 million), driven by the strategic expansion of its destination network, ongoing investment in innovation, a commitment to enhancing customer experience, and a dedication to serving underserved markets.
Commenting on the financial results, His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, the Chairman of FlyDubai, remarked, “The aviation sector remains foundational to Dubai’s growth strategy under the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, whose economic and developmental vision has positively impacted FlyDubai’s achievements.
Our robust profits for the fifth consecutive year clearly demonstrate FlyDubai’s disciplined strategy, operational resilience, and ability to adapt to customer needs and market fluctuations.
During this period, the company capitalized on Dubai’s positioning as a global aviation hub, allowing it to cater to sustained and strong demand for its services. Furthermore, FlyDubai maintained its commitment to operational efficiency, ensuring continued investments in its fleet, technology, infrastructure, and the development of its workforce to support its ambitious growth plans moving forward.”
He added, “We take pride in FlyDubai’s key role in supporting the efforts of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense, and Chairman of the Executive Council, in driving the implementation and advancement of Dubai’s economic agenda (D33), establishing Dubai as a leading global aviation hub.
By connecting the emirate to over 100 new markets, FlyDubai has attracted more visitors and enhanced its status as a gateway for trade, tourism, and opportunities.”
FlyDubai maintained strong operational profits before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) of 4 billion dirhams (approximately $1.1 billion) in 2025.
Fuel costs accounted for 25% of total operating expenses, while the company’s cash and bank balances (including aircraft delivery deposits) totaled 5.6 billion dirhams (about $1.5 billion) at the end of the period.
Additionally, the airline prioritized the enhancement of operational efficiency, improving its on-time performance across the network by 6% compared to 2024.
The airline recorded a historic number of 15.7 million passengers in 2025, driven by ongoing demand for business and leisure travel throughout its network.
Demand for business class was particularly strong, with a 19% increase compared to 2024. The growth in passenger numbers was supported by an increase in flights and network expansion in key markets, with the Middle East seeing a 17% growth, followed by Africa and Europe with 12% each.
Ghaith Al Ghaith, CEO of FlyDubai, commented on the company’s 2025 results: “Our strong financial performance in 2025 reflects the resilience of our business model and the efficiency of our teams.
We successfully navigated ongoing geopolitical challenges, supply chain constraints, and rising maintenance costs while maintaining operational efficiency and commercial momentum.
Our focus remains on disciplined strategic growth, expanding our network, and enhancing Dubai’s position as a leading global aviation center.
Today, we connect 140 airports to Dubai, boosting trade, tourism, and cultural exchange, thereby contributing significantly to the city’s economic growth. Additionally, we have invested heavily in technology, innovation, and developing our internal capabilities, while enhancing customer experience.
Through these investments, we will maintain our client-centric focus and human-centered approach, establishing a solid foundation for the future. FlyDubai has continued to enhance its operations to meet the rising demand for travel to and from the UAE.
Last year, the airline operated 126,604 flights, marking the second highest number of flights operated in the country, with over 400 departures on peak travel days in December 2025.
Destination Network: FlyDubai has continued to expand its strategic route network, launching nine new destinations, bringing its total to 140 destinations in 58 countries.
New destinations include Antalya (Turkey), Bushehr and Qeshm (Iran), El Alamein (Egypt), Iași (Romania), Nairobi (Kenya), Peshawar (Pakistan), Riga (Latvia), and Vilnius (Lithuania). The company also resumed flights to three destinations: Chișinău (Moldova), Damascus (Syria), and Tabriz (Iran).
Total capacity, measured in available seat kilometers (ASKM), for the network increased by 6% to 47.148 million seats, while passenger transport revenue, measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPKM), also rose by 6%, with passenger yield increasing by 3% compared to 2024.
Fleet
FlyDubai received 12 Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft, increasing its fleet to 97 aircraft with an average age of 5.5 years. The company also retired three Boeing 737-800 Next-Generation aircraft, returning them to lessors.
Additionally, FlyDubai completed a comprehensive cabin upgrade program, modernizing eight Boeing 737-800 aircraft, bringing the total number of upgraded planes in its fleet to 25. This initiative is part of the airline’s ongoing efforts to standardize services and provide a more comfortable travel experience for passengers in both business and economy classes.
FlyDubai signed an agreement to provide free high-speed internet via Starlink on its aircraft starting in 2026, enhancing the travel experience for customers.
Partnerships: The strategic partnership between Emirates and FlyDubai has allowed more than 2.5 million passengers to enjoy seamless connections across a joint network comprising 243 destinations in 103 countries through Dubai’s global aviation hub in 2025.
During the year, the airline signed 11 new airline partnership agreements, expanding its portfolio to include over 42 partners, offering customers access to more than 300 destinations through FlyDubai’s and its partners’ networks, along with three code-share agreements with Air Canada, Emirates, and United Airlines.
Human Resources: With a continuous recruitment drive to attract various talents, the company’s workforce grew by 11%, reaching a total of 6,763 employees.
Outlook for 2026
Ghaith Al Ghaith addressed the expectations for 2026, stating: “As we look ahead to 2026, travel demand remains strong despite ongoing challenges. Our business is on solid foundations, and we are well positioned to meet the increasing demand for both leisure and business travel across our network.”
Our entire focus is on establishing the groundwork for future growth. We are prioritizing investments in AI-backed technologies, enhancing our operations through increased digitization, and continuing to develop our teams while keeping our customers at the core of everything we do.
This year, we launched an executive management program and a managerial training program to ensure our leaders are prepared for the future. We are also significantly expanding our training programs, including pilot, engineer, and ground operations training, to build a robust talent pool that will support our long-term growth.
This is further strengthened by our aviation training center, now equipped with four full flight simulators, providing us with greater control and flexibility over our pilot training schedules, and potentially for other airlines in the future. We look forward to opening a new aircraft maintenance center in Dubai South.
This facility, projected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2026, comes at a multi-million dollar investment, ensuring a higher level of control and faster maintenance operations for the growing fleet.
We expect to receive 12 aircraft in 2026 based on the manufacturer’s delivery schedule, seven of which will be Boeing 737 MAX 9, which will increase business class capacity, and five will be Boeing 737 MAX 8.
These fuel-efficient aircraft support our growth ambitions and sustainability commitments. We will also be adding additional flights on selected routes and continue to evaluate new growth opportunities, including launching flights to Bangkok later this year, which will be a significant gateway to Southeast Asia.
Ahmad bin Saeed
The vision of Mohammed bin Rashid is reflected in FlyDubai’s achievements
Our strong profits for the fifth year are evidence of a disciplined strategy
Ghaith Al Ghaith
We connect 140 airports to Dubai, enhancing trade and tourism
We successfully navigated ongoing geopolitical challenges throughout the year
13.6
billion dirhams revenue with a 6% rise
126,604
flights to 140 destinations
6%
capacity growth to 47.148 million seats
11%
increase in workforce to 6,763 employees