Emirates has announced an intention to reintroduce flights to Damascus in Syria from July 16, 2025, subject to regulatory approval. Operations to the country were suspended by the Dubai-based carrier in 2012, and the return of services follows a comprehensive evaluation in conjunction with the UAE regulatory authority, the GCAA.
The airline will initially recommence services to the Syrian capital city with three weekly services departing Dubai on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Sundays, with plans to expand to four weekly flights from August 2, 2025, adding a flight on Saturdays. Emirates says it plans to expand its Damascus services to daily operations, effective from October 26, 20235, again subject to approval.
Emirates’ new 1,266-mile (2,025km) services to Damascus will operate with a 302-seater Boeing 777-200LR aircraft, of which the carrier currently has ten in its fleet. Flights are scheduled to depart Dubai as EK913 at noon, arriving in Damascus International Airport (DAM) at 14:10 local time. The return flight, EK914, will depart Damascus at 16:30, arriving back in Dubai at 20:30 the same day local time.
According to an airline statement, “The flights will open up new opportunities for travellers to conveniently connect to and from the airline’s network of nearly 150 destinations and will support the UAE’s efforts to strengthen bilateral ties and support Syrian aspirations to rebuild and attract foreign investment across key sectors such as energy, construction and agriculture.”
“Emirates customers flying to and from Damascus will also benefit from the airline’s codeshare partnership with flydubai, which will complement its flight schedule and provide more options and convenience when flying in and out of the Syrian capital,” the statement added.
What the airline’s CEO says
“Emirates is pleased to restart operations to Damascus and support Syria’s road ahead by providing better choice and connectivity, essential economic links for inward investment as well as opening new trade lanes and global market access for the country,” His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline and Group said. “Re-establishing air travel and connectivity is also good news for our customers who make up the expansive Syrian diaspora across the Americas, Europe, and the GCC, who are eager to fly back home and reconnect to their roots, and leverage their knowledge, skills, expertise, and resources in ongoing development efforts.”
“We would like to thank the Syrian authorities for their support in strengthening connectivity between Dubai and Damascus and look forward to boosting links to and from the country through our regularly scheduled operations,” he added.
According to the UAE Government, the UAE and Syria’s trade volumes reached US$680 million in 2024, representing a 23% increase over the previous year, and the new flights are expected to further stimulate these trade ties. “The UAE’s Syrian community of over 350,000 nationals has played an integral role in the UAE’s prosperity, contributing through entrepreneurial ventures and skilled expertise while further enriching the country’s vibrant cultural tapestry,” added the airline.
The Boeing 777-200LR aircraft operating to and from Damascus will feature 38 business class seats alongside 264 seats in economy class. The business class cabin on the Damascus service will feature a 2-2-2 configuration. Emirates commenced services to Damascus in 1988, and before suspending operations in 2012, the airline carried over 2.1 million passengers in and out of Syria. The airline currently flies to 13 cities in the Middle East, serving the region with a total of 191 weekly flights.
