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Emirates said in a statement that it will deploy its Unaccompanied Minors Service to support more than 3,500 children travelling independently over the coming two weeks, coinciding with the peak of the summer holiday season. The Dubai-based carrier reported that most participants are aged 11 years and under, with the busiest routes linking Dubai to the UK, Russia, Kenya, France, India and Egypt. The airline added that its service ensures continuous supervision from check-in to arrival, providing parents with reassurance while creating positive experiences for the young passengers.
Over the past five years Emirates has facilitated journeys for more than 250,000 children through its Unaccompanied Minors and Young Passenger services, according to the company’s announcement. Children aged five to 12 must use the service and travel on an adult fare while those aged 12 to 15 may fly independently or opt for the Young Passenger Service for an additional fee of USD 50 per sector. The statement noted that the program can be arranged up to 24 hours before departure through Emirates LiveChat, by telephone or at any local office.
Parents or guardians dropping off children at Dubai International Airport proceed to the renovated Unaccompanied Minors Lounge near the check-in zone, the carrier explained. There, youngsters receive identification verification, sign permission forms and then enjoy PlayStation 5 consoles, free Wi-Fi, comfortable seating, complimentary snacks and dedicated restrooms while awaiting their flights. A specialist from the Emirates team accompanies each child through security, immigration and priority boarding before handing them over to cabin crew.
On board, Emirates cabin crew monitor the young travellers throughout the flight, responding to requests for assistance with seating, meals or the inflight entertainment system, according to the announcement. Children receive complimentary toys, access to more than 100 video games and an extensive library of children’s programming on the ice system, which includes Disney titles, Marvel and Star Wars collections, the full Harry Potter series plus channels such as CBeebies, Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network. Special arrangements such as dietary requirements or birthday celebrations with pre-ordered cakes can be requested in advance, with crew capturing moments using a Polaroid camera.
Upon landing, an Emirates specialist meets the child at the aircraft door and escorts them through the destination airport until they are reunited with a verified guardian, the statement detailed. For connections at Dubai International the maximum permitted layover is eight hours, after which children wait in the dedicated lounge and remain under supervision if they leave the area for meals. The rules prohibit overnight stays at the connecting airport unless an approved adult guardian is present, a measure designed to maintain the highest safety standards.
Emirates, which began operations in 1985 and now flies the world’s largest fleets of Airbus A380s and Boeing 777s according to its corporate profile, positions the service as a core element of its family-oriented offerings. The announcement highlighted that proof of identification is required from both the drop-off and collection parties to ensure secure handovers at every stage. Young travellers in separate cabins from parents on the same flight are charged adult fares but do not receive lounge access or the full unaccompanied program.
