UAE Carriers Make It To The World’s Top 20 List For 2025, With Etihad Airlines Leading The Way

If you’ve been flying in and out of the UAE for years, this news might be something you could easily relate to. UAE airlines are on a serious winning streak. But seeing Etihad and Emirates make it into the world’s top 20, backed by global data, feels like the kind of milestone moment.

Etihad And Emirates Soar Into The Global Top 20 As UAE Airlines Raise The Bar For 2025

Etihad Airways didn’t just perform well; it nearly stole the entire show by landing 2nd place worldwide in the latest AirHelp rankings, as mentioned by the press release. The Abu Dhabi carrier earned an impressive overall score of 8.07. They are backed by strong numbers in on-time performance and customer opinion.
Also, Etihad climbed nine places from last year. All thanks to better aircraft, better service, and an overall smoother experience from check-in to touchdown.

Emirates Wins Hearts (And Cabins)

Then there’s Emirates, the airline everyone associates with comfort, giant screens and food. The Dubai-based carrier ascended 39Spots to land at 16th place globally.
A massive 9.0 customer opinion score makes it one of the highest in the world. Emirates has been updating their experience to make long-haul travel feel less hassle and more like a treat.

The Budget Players Are No Pushovers

The UAE’s aviation success doesn’t end with the premium big names. Budget carriers are adding their own wins to the scoreboard.  Air Arabia ranked 38th worldwide, scoring 7.05, and Flydubai secured a place at 71. Both are continuing to grow its regional presence

Having reliable low-cost options helps balance the ecosystem, and the UAE now has one of the strongest lineups of carriers across every price range.

Not just the UAE, but overall, the airlines from the Middle East have marked strong performance as per the report. Qatar Airways topped the global list with a score of 8.16, while airlines like Oman Air, Saudia, and Gulf Air also landed in high positions. Here’s the list of the top 20 airlines as mentioned in the report by AirHelp. 

Also Read: UAE Airlines’ Travel Advisory For Europe To Dubai Fitness Challenge Registration Opens; 10 Middle East Updates

Top 20 Airlines Rankings (AirHelpScore 2025)

1. Qatar Airways
   Score: 8.16
2. Etihad Airways
   Score: 8.07
3. Virgin Atlantic
   Score: 8.03
4. Qantas
   Score: 7.99 
5. KM Malta Airlines
   Score: 7.85 
6. Aeromexico
   Score: 7.84
7. Oman Air
   Score: 7.82
8. Saudia
   Score: 7.69 
9. Brussels Airlines
   Score: 7.66 
10. LOT Polish Airlines
    Score: 7.65 
11. American Airlines
    Score: 7.64
12. Air France
    Score: 7.59 
13. United Airlines
    Score: 7.54 
14. All Nippon Airways (ANA)
    Score: 7.54
15. Delta Air Lines
    Score: 7.46 
16. Emirates
    Score: 7.45 
17. British Airways
    Score: 7.44 
18. Finnair
    Score: 7.41 
19. Austrian Airlines
    Score: 7.40 
20. KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
    Score: 7.39 

Cover Image Courtesy: Etihad/Website