Emirates has marked 25 years of operations in Uganda, highlighting its role in connecting the country to its global network since launching flights to Entebbe in 2000. Over this period, the airline has transported 2.8 million passengers on 15,900 flights between Dubai and Entebbe.
The airline’s service initially operated three times a week with stops in Nairobi and later Addis Ababa before becoming a direct route in 2007. Emirates introduced the Boeing 777-200LR on the route in 2015, replacing the Airbus A330-200 and increasing seat capacity by 12%. Currently, Emirates operates a three-class Boeing 777-300ER on the route and remains the only international carrier offering a First Class cabin for travelers to and from Entebbe.
Emirates has also partnered with the Uganda Tourism Board over the past two years to promote Ugandan tourism destinations across its network. This collaboration has helped increase inbound tourism, resulting in a reported 16% rise in passenger numbers on the Dubai-Entebbe route since January 2025, with significant traffic coming from countries such as the US, China, India, UK, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, and UAE.