(Posted 17th September 2026)
Emirates, the Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) and the Ministry of Tourism and Culture have renewed their strategic partnership to further promote Seychelles as a tourism destination and increase visitor arrivals.
According to a press release from the airline, the partnership was renewed through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on Monday, September 14,th on the opening day of the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
The agreement builds on a collaboration between Emirates and Seychelles that began in 2013 and will focus on increasing inbound visitor traffic through the airline’s extensive global network.
Under the renewed agreement, Emirates will work with STB and the Ministry of Tourism and Culture on joint marketing and advertising campaigns, as well as familiarisation trips for media representatives and travel trade partners.
These initiatives aim to raise Seychelles’ profile in key international markets by giving media and tourism industry representatives first-hand experience of the destination and its tourism offerings.
Emirates currently operates two daily flights between Dubai and Mahe, providing connectivity between Seychelles and major markets across Europe, the Middle East, Asia and beyond.
According to Emirates, its services have contributed to the growth in visitor arrivals recorded in Seychelles over the past two years.
Figures from the Central Bank of Seychelles show that visitor arrivals increased by 13% in 2025, when the country welcomed 398,841 visitors, compared with approximately 353,000 in 2024.
The growth represents more than a doubling of tourist arrivals from 2021 levels.
The MoU was signed by Essa Sulaiman Ahmad, Emirates’ Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations, West Asia and Indian Ocean; Amanda Bernstein, Minister for Tourism and Culture; and Vesna Raki?, Chief Executive Officer of the Seychelles Tourism Board, in the presence of other Emirates representatives.
Ahmad said the renewed partnership reflects Emirates’ continued commitment to supporting Seychelles’ tourism ambitions.
“With two daily flights connecting our network to Seychelles, we are well positioned to help drive visitor demand and further contribute to the growth of the country’s tourism sector,” he said.
Raki? described Emirates as one of Seychelles’ longstanding and valued airline partners, highlighting the importance of its double-daily service through Dubai, a key international aviation hub for Seychelles.
She said the renewed agreement would strengthen joint marketing activities and engagement with the travel trade.
“Renewing this agreement builds on a relationship founded on consistent service and close cooperation, while enabling us to strengthen joint marketing and travel trade engagement,” said the CEO.
Tourists visiting Seychelles include both first-time and repeat visitors, attracted by the country’s beaches and natural environment. Key source markets include the United Arab Emirates, Germany, Russia, France, the United Kingdom and South Africa.
The renewed partnership follows the establishment of a codeshare agreement between Emirates and Air Seychelles in 2025.
The agreement provides Emirates’ customers with connections on Air Seychelles-operated flights between Mahe and Praslin, extending island-to-island connectivity to one of Seychelles’ most popular tourist destinations.
According to the airline, a significant proportion of passengers travelling on the Dubai-Mahe route come from markets including France, Italy, Germany, Switzerland and the United Kingdom for holidays in Seychelles.
