Emirates has accelerated its global growth as part of its strategy to redefine travel retailing. The airline reached a significant milestone by opening its 10th flagship “Emirates World” store in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
Emirates opened the 10th flagship store of its next-generation travel retail concept Emirates World in Abidjan. With this opening, the company’s number of travel retail points worldwide reached 9.
The airline made an investment of AED 174 million (USD 47.4 million) as part of its expansion strategy in travel retailing.
Emirates plans to open 29 more travel retail concepts throughout 2026. Thus, the total number of stores is targeted to reach 48 by the end of the year.
The first Emirates World Store, opened in Dubai in 2022, became the starting point of the concept. Afterwards, flagship stores were launched in London, Nairobi, Casablanca, Manila, Cairo, Singapore, Bangkok and Riyadh.
Mid-sized concept stores were opened in Paris, Karachi, Hong Kong, Accra, Geneva, Mauritius and Jakarta.
The 2026 planning includes Athens, Rome, Madrid, Istanbul, Amman, New Delhi, Mumbai, Shenzhen, Tokyo and Cape Town.
Emirates World stores bring the airline’s iconic onboard products and the newest cabin experiences to customers on the ground.
- A380 onboard lounge area
- Business Class and First Class seat experience
- Premium Economy cabin introductions
- Self-service kiosks
- Digital touchpoints
- Destination experience with selfie mirror
Each store is designed with a localized concept according to customer expectations in the market where it is located.
Emirates’ travel retail concept stores have attracted more than 1.4 million visitors since 2024. This figure shows that physical travel planning spaces have regained importance alongside digital transformation.
Emirates Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer Adnan Kazim said the following regarding global expansion:
“We are enabling our passengers to establish a deeper connection with our brand while accelerating the global rollout of our Emirates World Stores concept. With our expert consultants and the latest technologies, we offer our customers the opportunity to plan their travels effortlessly. We are proud to provide exceptional service in these special spaces and help everyone benefit in the best possible way from Emirates’ newest products and services.”
At the new store in Abidjan, the A380 onboard lounge area and a Business Class seat are displayed, strengthening Emirates’ premium brand positioning.
Additionally, visitors can register for Emirates’ award-winning loyalty programme Emirates Skywards via the self-service kiosks inside the store.
