Emirates launches the actual VIP service — Emirates Courier Express

Yesterday, Emirates announced a new service for VIPs — Very Important Parcels, promising door-to-door delivery with the same exceptional care as its passenger services. Initially teased as one of their famous April Fool’s jokes, the service is, in fact, a reality.

Officially called the Emirates Courier Express, the service leverages Emirates' vast global network and fleet of over 250 aircraft to provide fast, reliable, and flexible shipping solutions. Unlike traditional hub-and-spoke logistics models, Emirates Courier Express will transport packages directly from origin to destination, reducing transit times and minimising handling.

This new service is exclusively for businesses, offering two shipping options: First, which provides next-business-day priority delivery for time-sensitive shipments up to 30 kg per package, and Premium, which ensures delivery within 2-4 business days for shipments up to 70 kg per package.

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To start shipping, businesses must register on the website, after which Emirates will assess their needs and activate the account within 2–3 business days.

Badr Abbas, Divisional Senior Vice President, Emirates SkyCargo, said, “Emirates Courier Express is an evolution in how we move goods across the globe, at speed and at scale. Building on our world-class and well-established infrastructure and reimagining traditional logistics processes where necessary, this innovative solution does not just meet the Emirates Gold Standard of reliability and excellence but sets a new benchmark for what’s possible. This is only the beginning of our vision to continuously innovate and lead the charge in the express delivery sector.”

However, individual users without a trade licence cannot open an Emirates Courier Express account. While this new service is exclusively for B2B shipments, Emirates already operates a B2C logistics service called Emirates Delivers, launched in 2019. Emirates Delivers caters to individual customers by facilitating international deliveries, whereas Emirates Courier Express is tailored for businesses requiring large-scale, cross-border shipping solutions.

A key advantage of Emirates Courier Express is its seamless integration into Emirates’ existing freight and logistics infrastructure, allowing for greater reliability, cost stability, and volume flexibility. Customers can track shipments in real-time, and if a recipient is unavailable, the service will attempt delivery three times before further action is required. Additionally, destination charges, duties, and taxes will depend on the shipping terms. The recipient will need to settle these charges before receiving their package.

It prioritises ease of business with an entirely digital platform built to integrate directly into customer software while supporting bespoke shipping solutions. The service offers advanced tracking systems, real-time updates, and seamless integration, ensuring efficiency, reliability, quality, and transparency from collection to delivery worldwide.

Dennis Lister, Senior Vice President of Product and Innovation, Emirates SkyCargo, said, “Emirates Courier Express is the result of challenging the status quo. Along with the industry, we watched the increasing volumes of cross-border shipping and challenged ourselves to find a better way to transport these goods faster and more efficiently.”

Emirates Courier Express has been developed in collaboration with SmartKargo, the same technology partner behind Emirates Delivers. SmartKargo is a cloud-based air cargo management solution that provides digital integration, real-time tracking, and end-to-end logistics support for airlines and businesses. It is also developing digital platforms and solutions for cross-border e-commerce with airline customers such as Oman Air, Vistara, WestJet Cargo, Widerøe, IndiGo, Akasa Air, Teleport and VietJet.

At launch, Emirates Courier Express is available in seven markets, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, South Africa, and the UK, with plans for rapid expansion. The airline’s direct delivery model and fully digital platform make this a game-changer in the express logistics industry, reinforcing Emirates' reputation for speed, efficiency, and innovation.