Emirates Expands Global Travel Retail Footprint with New Abidjan Flagship Store
Emirates has reached a major milestone in its global travel retail strategy with the opening of its 10th Emirates World flagship store in Abidjan, signalling a bold acceleration of the airline’s investment in customer-facing retail experiences.
The latest opening brings Emirates’ global travel retail presence to 19 outlets, comprising 10 Emirates World flagship stores and nine travel retail concept stores. The airline has so far invested AED 174 million (USD 47.4 million) in expanding its retail footprint and plans to launch 29 additional stores in 2026, taking the total number of outlets worldwide to 48 by the end of the year.
Designed to deliver personalised service, expert travel advice and immersive brand experiences, Emirates World stores blend the airline’s iconic onboard products with advanced digital technologies. Since 2024, the retail concept has attracted more than 1.4 million walk-in customers, highlighting its growing role in how travellers plan and experience their journeys.
Emirates’ Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer, Adnan Kazim, said the expansion reflects the airline’s commitment to deeper customer engagement beyond the airport. “As we accelerate the global rollout of Emirates World stores, we are creating spaces where travellers and partners can engage with our brand, explore our products and experience cutting-edge technology that brings their journeys to life. These stores are designed to deliver exceptional service and help customers truly ‘fly better’,” he said.
The Emirates World concept was first introduced in November 2022 with a flagship store in Jumeirah, Dubai. That 3,000-square-foot location became the blueprint for a rapid international expansion, with flagship stores now operating in London, Nairobi, Casablanca, Manila, Cairo, Singapore, Bangkok and Riyadh.
In parallel, Emirates has rolled out mid-sized travel retail stores in cities including Paris, Karachi, Hong Kong, Accra, Geneva, Mauritius and Jakarta, with further openings planned this year in Athens, Rome, Madrid, Istanbul, Amman, New Delhi, Mumbai, Shenzhen, Tokyo and Cape Town.
Each Emirates World store is uniquely designed to reflect local market preferences, informed by footfall trends and consumer behaviour. Some locations feature full-scale First Class and Premium Economy seat displays, while others showcase the airline’s signature A380 onboard lounge, offering customers a tangible preview of the Emirates flying experience.
The newly opened Abidjan store includes both an A380 onboard lounge and a Business Class seat display, reinforcing Emirates’ premium positioning in West Africa.
Across all locations, customers can access digital self-service kiosks, interactive features such as selfie mirrors with destination backdrops, and curated collections of Emirates-branded merchandise and travel accessories. Visitors can also enrol in Emirates Skywards, the airline’s award-winning loyalty programme, directly in-store.
With further expansion planned throughout 2026, Emirates continues to position its travel retail strategy as a key pillar of its global growth, bringing the airline’s signature service and innovation closer to customers around the world.
