After nearly 16,000 flights Emirates sees Uganda as key market

October 23, 2025 in Travel & Tourism by

Since the inaugural flight, Emirates has carried 2.8 million passengers on the Dubai-Entebbe route and driven inbound tourism through partnerships with the Uganda Tourism Board.
In Summary

Since January 2025, Emirates has noted a 16% uptick in passengers on the Dubai-Entebbe route, with […]

Since January 2025, Emirates has noted a 16% uptick in passengers on the Dubai-Entebbe route, with key traffic from the US, China, India, the UK, Thailand and the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Speaking recently to mark the 25th anniversary since the airline started its Entebbe flights, Mohamed Taher, Emirates’ Country Manager for Uganda said, “Uganda is not only a key market on our network, but also one of our most loved destinations in Africa.”

To mark the anniversary, Emirates operated a special one-off flight and static tour of the refurbished Boeing 777 aircraft, showcasing the future to the Pearl of Africa. Emirates has transported 2.8 million passengers on 15,900 flights, connecting passengers from Uganda, with its vast global network, via Dubai.

He later told invited guests to a cocktail event in Kampala, “Over the last 25 years, we have built strong and prosperous ties with customers, partners and stakeholders, by investing in our operations to provide a best-in-class service. As Uganda’s tourism and aviation sectors continue to flourish, we are proud to play a pivotal role in connecting international travelers to the country and helping passengers from Uganda explore more of the world in comfort.”

Since the inaugural flight in 2000, Emirates has carried 2.8 million passengers on the Dubai-Entebbe route and driven inbound tourism through partnerships with the Uganda Tourism Board.

Key stakeholders from Uganda’s aviation and tourism sectors were in attendance, including General Edward Katumba Wamala, Uganda’s Minister of Works and Transportation, and the Director General of Uganda Civil Aviation Authority, Fred Bamwesigye along with Rashid Alardha, Emirates’ Vice President Commercial Operations, Sub-Saharan Africa.

For the last two years, Emirates and the UTB have collaborated to stimulate inbound tourism, promoting the country’s stunning natural landscapes, free-roaming wildlife experiences, thrilling adventure sports and rich culture, in key destinations on the airline’s network.

Over the years, Emirates has steadily and strategically scaled its operations to Entebbe, evolving with customer demand. At launch, the service was operated three times a week, and linked with Nairobi, and later with Addis Ababa, before becoming a direct service in 2007.

In 2015, Emirates first operated the Boeing 777-200LR, replacing the Airbus A330-200 and upgrading seat capacity by 12%. Now, Emirates operates a three-class Boeing 777-300ER and remains the only international airline offering a First Class cabin in and out of the city.

 

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