Emirates Airline Foundation charity auction raises AED 8.8 million

In a first-of-its-kind achievement, the Emirates Airline Foundation, in cooperation with Emirates Auction, succeeded in raising AED 8.8 million (USD 2.4 million) to support and develop humanitarian programmes dedicated to underprivileged children around the world.

The auction, which ran from 17 December 2025 to 17 January 2026, saw broad participation, with more than 900 bids placed by participants from 131 countries.

Seven rare Emirates Skywards membership numbers with Platinum-tier benefits were offered. The highest individual bid reached AED 1.6 million over the one-month bidding period. Two bidders secured Platinum membership for 20 years, while five other bidders won 15-year memberships. The top bidders were spread across several countries, including the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, India, the United States, Pakistan, France, Germany, Egypt and Thailand, in addition to other markets.

The proceeds raised will enable the Foundation to launch new projects and expand the scope of support currently provided to children and communities benefiting from its existing programmes, in cooperation with 14 non-governmental organisations in nine countries.

Building on the success of this initiative, the Emirates Airline Foundation and Emirates Auction will continue to organise annual auctions, providing an ongoing opportunity for supporters around the world to contribute to the Foundation’s humanitarian mission.

Sir Tim Clark, President Emirates Airline and Chairman of the Emirates Airline Foundation, said:

“This initiative stemmed from a firm belief in the importance of developing innovative tools that enable the Foundation to expand the reach of its humanitarian work and enhance its long-term impact. The strong response to this idea has confirmed that combining real value with prestigious status can deliver tangible humanitarian outcomes, while at the same time reflecting the spirit of generosity that characterises the Skywards community around the world.”

He added:

“The proceeds raised will help us expand our existing programmes, build new partnerships and reach additional communities, thereby strengthening our ability to create lasting change in the lives of children, who are at the heart of the Foundation’s work in a number of countries worldwide. We are proud to continue our partnership with Emirates Auction as an annual initiative that embodies an effective model of collaboration for good, and I would like to extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to everyone who took part and supported this initiative. Their contributions will have a real impact that goes far beyond what they might imagine.”

Abdulla Matar Al Mannai, Chairman and Managing Director of Emirates Auction, said:

“The results achieved by this auction reflect the scale of impact that can be realised when a clear vision is combined with innovation and joint action. At Emirates Auction, we place support for charitable and humanitarian initiatives at the core of our role, especially when it involves national institutions that carry a humanitarian message with global reach, such as the Emirates Airline Foundation.”

He added:

“We are proud to have contributed to the success of this initiative by leveraging our expertise, platforms and teams to deliver a meaningful and sustainable impact. The partnership with Emirates Airline represents a model of responsible collaboration that turns value into tangible results that serve communities in need. We look forward to building on this success and strengthening our cooperation in the coming years, in a way that supports a wider impact and enhances humanitarian efforts on a scale that goes beyond borders.”

This article is translated and not the actual content.