Dubai’s flagship carrier, Emirates, has announced plans to strengthen its presence across Asia by launching flights to three new destinations: Shenzhen in China, Da Nang in Vietnam, and Siem Reap in Cambodia. Starting from July 1, 2025, Emirates will introduce daily non-stop flights between Dubai and Shenzhen, alongside four weekly services to Da Nang commencing on June 2 and three weekly flights to Siem Reap starting June 3.
According to Emirates, the latest expansion signifies the airline's growing commitment to enhancing connectivity between Dubai and Asia. Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer, remarked, "Our expansion ... opens new doors for business and economic exchange between this technological powerhouse and global markets." This statement underlines the strategic importance of Shenzhen as the newest addition to Emirates’ route network, marking the carrier as the first Middle Eastern airline to service this tech hub.
With the new launches, Emirates now connects Dubai to 49 destinations across Asia and the Pacific. The airline has emphasized the significance of Vietnam, particularly following the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between the UAE and Vietnam. Kazim noted, "Vietnam holds a strategic place ... following the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between the UAE and Vietnam," highlighting how this agreement underpins the airline's operational growth.
The introduction of non-stop flights to Shenzhen is expected to facilitate various business and leisure travel opportunities. Emirates will utilize its upgraded Boeing 777-300ER planes for the Shenzhen route. Each flight is anticipated to transport around ten tonnes of cargo, which will mainly support high-tech and e-commerce exports from the city.
For Da Nang, the flights will operate four times per week—on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays—while the Siem Reap route will run three times weekly on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, with both cities connected through Bangkok.
Emirates’ four weekly services to Da Nang solidify its presence as the third gateway to Vietnam, extending connectivity from its two other operational cities, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. The planned flights to these cities come at a moment when the demand for tourism and economic travel is rapidly increasing.
Kazim elaborated on the significance of this network expansion. "We remain committed to offering business and leisure travellers unparalleled access to Southeast Asia and the broader East Asia region by delivering an extensive flight schedule." This commitment is evident as Emirates' service to Siem Reap is strategically timed to cater to leisure travellers from Europe, including popular markets like France, the UK, Germany, Spain, and Russia.
The connectivity options offered by Emirates not only allow for direct travel to these vibrant cities but also enable seamless transfers to and from Dubai. Flight EK328 from Dubai is scheduled to depart at 10:05 AM and arrive in Shenzhen at 10:00 PM local time, facilitating easy connections to various destinations across Africa, Europe, and the Americas.
While Da Nang flights will connect through Bangkok, departing Dubai at 9:00 AM and arriving for the second leg at 8:10 PM, the overall experience is crafted to be smooth and efficient. These optimized flight schedules provide travellers with reliable links to major European urban centers, auguring well for business and seasonal travel.
The introduction of services to both Da Nang and Siem Reap is also set to cater to tourists eager to explore some of Southeast Asia's most stunning locales, including Cambodia’s majestic Angkor Wat.
Industry analysts have noted Emirates’ expansion will likely solidify its position as the largest and most diversified airline operating routes between Dubai and Asia. The three new additions bring Emirates' flight offerings to 269 weekly flights across 24 destinations throughout East Asia, making it highly competitive.
The enhanced operations enable Emirates to offer additional cargo capacity from Shenzhen, leveraging the city’s status as a manufacturing hub and allowing for specialized shipping solutions for advanced technology products.
Through partnerships, customers on Emirates flights can benefit from access to over 24 codeshare and interline agreements, streamlining travel to their desired destinations more conveniently and affordably. The Emirates customer experience remains premier, with onboard dining featuring regionally-inspired cuisine and the award-winning ice entertainment system offering thousands of channels from global content, ensuring passengers are entertained throughout their journeys.
Emirates also aims to develop unique travel packages for those interested in multi-destination journeys combining Dubai with any of its newly launched Asian routes—a strategy expected to attract diverse clientele seeking to encounter richness across cultures and landscapes.
Passengers eager to book flights can do so easily through Emirates’ website or app, and find additional information about travel plans, enhanced safety protocols, and leisure deals. The airline is optimistic about bringing the world and its new destinations closer together, ensuring customer satisfaction across all its touchpoints.