Emirates Cleared for Daily Dubai–Berlin Flights After 22-Year Push

After more than two decades of lobbying, Emirates has finally secured approval to fly daily between Dubai and Berlin. The German government confirmed the decision on September 10, 2026, during the state visit of UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan — a breakthrough that makes Berlin the airline’s fifth destination in Germany.

The agreement allows Emirates to operate up to seven weekly flights between Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER), effectively a daily service. The rights exclude fifth-freedom flying, so Emirates may only fly between Germany and the UAE on this route, not onward to third countries.

Germany grants Emirates a fifth German gateway

Berlin joins Frankfurt, Munich, Düsseldorf and Hamburg on the Emirates network. Under the previous bilateral agreement, UAE carriers were capped at four German destinations — the only way to add Berlin would have been to drop one of the existing four, a trade-off Emirates refused. The airline has sought Berlin access since the early 2000s.

The approval arrived as part of a wider package: the UAE pledged to invest €40 billion in Germany across artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure, energy and advanced industry. Germany’s Federal Transport Minister Steffen Bilger called the outcome “a forward-looking result” reached after years of negotiation.

Not everyone is celebrating. Lufthansa and the German airline association protested the move, arguing it shifts value creation and jobs to the Gulf — a familiar refrain in a dispute rooted in a 1994 bilateral deal, Aviation Week reports.

No official launch date yet

Emirates has not confirmed when the first flight will take off. The carrier had previously eyed a December 2026 start using Boeing 777s, before aircraft delivery delays pushed the timeline back. Until the airline publishes a schedule, any date remains provisional.

For travellers, the route matters. Berlin generates strong demand for travel to the Gulf and the Indian subcontinent, where passengers have previously faced a connection over Frankfurt or Munich. A daily widebody Emirates service brings one-stop connections through Dubai International Airport to Asia, Africa and Australia.

Emirates Boeing 777 climbing above Dubai with the skyline below
Emirates is expected to use Boeing 777 widebodies on the Berlin route, though no launch date has been confirmed.

Condor drops Berlin and Stuttgart winter flights to Dubai

The same week the Berlin approval landed, Condor announced it will remove its daily Berlin and Stuttgart to Dubai services from its winter schedule, citing challenging economic conditions across the global aviation industry.

Affected passengers will be contacted with rebooking or refund options. Condor blamed Germany’s high state-imposed aviation costs and called for reciprocity and competitive neutrality in any expansion of international traffic rights — a pointed reference to the Emirates decision.

The timing is striking: Condor had only recently expanded these routes, and the withdrawal leaves a gap Emirates’ future daily service may ultimately fill.

Passengers walking through a modern airport terminal with departure boards
Passengers booked on Condor’s withdrawn Berlin and Stuttgart winter services will be offered rebooking or refunds.

What this means for your travel plans

  • Booked with Condor from Berlin or Stuttgart this winter? Wait for the airline’s contact, then compare rebooking options — winter remains the best time to visit Dubai, and demand on alternative carriers will be high.
  • Planning ahead? More capacity on Germany–Dubai routes typically means steadier fares once the daily Emirates service launches. Watch for the schedule announcement, and factor the change into your trip cost planning.

Recent aviation news has been busy — including suspended services from Iranian airlines earlier this month — but few developments reshape long-haul choice as much as a daily Emirates service to a capital city. Once you land, see our Dubai taxi guide for airport-to-city options.

Frequently asked questions

When will Emirates start flying Dubai–Berlin?

No official launch date has been announced. Emirates previously targeted December 2026 before aircraft delivery delays intervened. Treat any specific date as unconfirmed until the airline publishes its schedule.

How often will Emirates fly between Dubai and Berlin?

The approval covers up to seven weekly flights — a daily service — between Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER).

Why did Germany block Emirates from Berlin for 22 years?

A bilateral air services agreement limited UAE carriers to four German destinations, and Emirates faced opposition from Lufthansa and German policymakers over competitive concerns. Adding Berlin previously required giving up an existing destination.

What happens if I booked Condor’s Berlin or Stuttgart to Dubai winter flights?

Condor says affected passengers will be contacted and offered rebooking on alternative flights or a refund under its conditions of carriage.

Which airlines still fly Berlin to Dubai?

Eurowings also serves the Berlin–Dubai route and remains available for winter bookings. Emirates’ daily service is approved but not yet launched, so capacity this winter will be tighter than in previous years.