The Emirates Airline Foundation, in collaboration with Emirates Auction, has successfully raised AED 8.8 million (USD $2.4 million) to support humanitarian programs for underprivileged children globally. This initiative marks a significant first, with the entirety of the proceeds from the auction of seven rare Skywards memberships directed towards introducing new initiatives and expanding the Foundation’s grassroots network.
The auction, which ran from 17 December 2025 to 17 January 2026, attracted over 900 bids from participants in 131 countries. Seven exclusive Emirates Skywards membership numbers with Platinum tier status benefits were offered to bidders worldwide, with the highest single bid reaching AED 1.6 million during the month-long event. Two bidders secured 20-year Platinum memberships, while five others won 15-year memberships. Top bidders came from the UAE, UK, India, United States, Pakistan, France, Germany, Egypt, and Thailand, among other countries.
The funds raised will enable the Foundation to launch new projects and expand support for children and communities already benefiting from existing programs in partnership with 14 NGOs across nine countries. Following the success of this initiative, the Emirates Airline Foundation and Emirates Auction plan to make this auction an annual event, offering ongoing opportunities for supporters worldwide to contribute to the Foundation’s mission.
Sir Tim Clark, President of Emirates Airline and Chairman of the Emirates Airline Foundation, expressed his satisfaction with the initiative: “When we launched this initiative in December, our goal was to find innovative ways to expand the Foundation’s humanitarian work. The exclusivity and prestige of the Platinum status memberships attracted bidders, and the response was extraordinary, highlighting the generosity of our global community.”
Clark continued, “The proceeds will allow us to partner with more organizations, reach new communities, and strengthen programs that are already making a significant impact on the lives of children in India, the Philippines, Brazil, Kenya, South Africa, Zimbabwe, and beyond. This generosity will create a real and lasting difference for the children at the heart of our work. We look forward to continuing our partnership with Emirates Auction, providing supporters with a meaningful way to contribute while receiving something valuable in return.”
Abdullah Matar Al Mannai, Chairman and Managing Director of Emirates Auction, shared his enthusiasm for the results: “We are pleased with the outstanding outcomes of this auction, which demonstrate the power of purpose, innovation, and collaboration. Supporting charitable and humanitarian initiatives is central to our mission at Emirates Auction, especially with global humanitarian-focused institutions like the Emirates Airline Foundation.”
Al Mannai added, “We are proud to have contributed to the success of this initiative, dedicating our expertise, platforms, and teams to ensure the auction’s impact. The partnership between Emirates Airline and Emirates Auction underscores our shared commitment to creating real, lasting change for communities in need. We look forward to building on this success and continuing our collaboration to advance humanitarian causes worldwide.”
