In a successful first, the Emirates Airline Foundation and Emirates Auction have raised AED 8.8 million ($2.4 million) to advance humanitarian programmes for underprivileged children worldwide.
The auction ran from
December 17, 2025, to January 17, 2026, and attracted over 900 bids from participants across 131 countries.
Seven rare Emirates
Skywards membership numbers with Platinum tier status benefits were offered to
bidders globally, with the highest single bid reaching AED 1.6 million over the
one-month bidding period.
Two bidders secured
20-year Platinum memberships, while five others won 15-year memberships.
Top bidders hailed
from the UAE, UK, India, United States, Pakistan, France, Germany, Egypt and
Thailand, among other countries.
Funds raised will
enable the Foundation to launch new projects, while expanding support for the
children and communities already benefiting from its existing programmes in
collaboration with 14 NGOs across nine countries.
Following the success
of the initiative, the Emirates Airline Foundation and Emirates Auction will
continue to hold annual auction events, creating an ongoing opportunity for
supporters worldwide to contribute to the Foundation's mission.
Tim Clark,
President Emirates Airline and Chairman of the Emirates Airline Foundation
said: "When we brought this initiative to life in December, we were guided
by a simple objective to look at new, innovative ways to grow the Foundation’s
humanitarian work and impact. What made this initiative so compelling wasn't
just the exclusivity of the membership numbers, but the value and prestige that
comes with Platinum status. Bidders recognised that, and they showed up. The
response was extraordinary, and a testament to the generosity of our global
community of Skywards members and bidders. The proceeds will allow us to do more, partner with more organisations,
reach new communities, and strengthen the programmes already changing the lives
of hundreds of children across India, the Philippines, Brazil, Kenya, South
Africa, Zimbabwe, and beyond. For the children at the heart of our work, this
generosity will make a real and lasting difference.”
Clark added: “We are proud to continue our partnership with
Emirates Auction as an annual initiative, giving supporters around the world a
meaningful way to contribute while receiving something of real value in return,
proving that loyalty and generosity can work hand in hand. To everyone who participated: thank you. Your
contribution will reach further than you know."
Meanwhile, Abdullah Matar Al Mannai, Chairman and Managing Director of Emirates Auction, said: “We are pleased with the outstanding results achieved by this auction, which demonstrate what can be accomplished when purpose, innovation, and collaboration come together. At Emirates Auction, supporting charitable and humanitarian initiatives has always been a core part of our mission, particularly when it comes to national institutions with a global humanitarian outlook such as the Emirates Airline Foundation.”
Al Mannai added: “We are proud to have played a role in the success of this initiative and to have dedicated our expertise, platforms, and teams to ensuring the auction delivered the expected impact. The strong partnership between Emirates Airline and Emirates Auction demonstrates a shared commitment to giving back and to translating value into real, lasting change for communities in need. We look forward to building on this success and continuing our collaboration in the years ahead, as we work together to achieve greater impact and advance humanitarian causes that extend far beyond our borders.” -TradeArabia News Service
