Emirates has opened a new $8m world-class training facility in Dubai, designed to provide a luxurious hospitality experience to nearly 25,000 cabin crew.
The Emirates Centre of Hospitality Excellence will focus on developing cabin crew skills in fine dining, premium guest engagement, and service innovation, reinforcing the airline’s global reputation for world-class service.
The facility includes a restaurant and lounge for 170 guests, eight tech-enabled classrooms, and presentation kitchens, all designed to simulate real-life luxury hospitality experiences.
Emirates training centre
Emirates expects more than 10,000 cabin crew to complete training at the centre by the end of this year.
The Emirates Centre of Hospitality Excellence delivers training modelled on Michelin-star standards, developed in collaboration with the Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne in Switzerland.
The facility embodies Emirates’ four pillars of hospitality in the sky — excellence, attentiveness, innovation, and passion — setting new benchmarks for luxury service delivery.
Thomas Ney, Divisional Senior Vice President of Service Delivery at Emirates, said the new centre strengthens the airline’s commitment to delivering exceptional customer experiences.
Ney said: “Emirates continues to uplift the ‘fly better’ experience for our valued customers. We have invested in the highest levels of luxury hospitality training for our cabin crew, enabling them to really relate to the customers they serve and create unforgettable signature moments.
“We are delighted to provide our crew with immersive training, allowing them to personally sample the cuisine, the beverages, the ambiance and ultimately, the hospitality Emirates is renowned for.”
Immersive fine dining for cabin crew
A highlight of the centre is an immersive fine dining experience, where cabin crew dine as guests to experience Emirates’ four-course gourmet service curated by the airline’s master chefs.
The meals replicate Emirates’ First and Business Class menus, served by the airline’s elite training team to model seven-star hospitality.
The goal is to enhance authenticity, empathy, and attention to detail across all passenger interactions.
Culinary artistry with Emirates Master Chefs
In the centre’s purpose-built training kitchen, cabin crew learn the art of plating, balancing textures, colours, and shapes under the guidance of professional chef trainers.
The training merges restaurant-style service with the precision of airline galley operations, teaching crew to create visually stunning dishes that elevate the sensory experience of dining with Emirates.
The Art of Service course goes beyond traditional fine dining techniques, introducing cabin crew to the emotional and cultural nuances of luxury hospitality.
Training focuses on presence, poise, and emotional intelligence, equipping crew to listen actively, anticipate needs, and tailor experiences for every customer.
The UAE carrier developed the course based on extensive research from Michelin-starred restaurants and luxury hotels worldwide.
Emirates training
The Centre of Hospitality Excellence joins the suite of state-of-the-art training facilities, including the new Crew Zone at Group Headquarters — a 24/7 space offering wellbeing, tech support, workshops, and interactive lounges for staff development.
The airline currently employs nearly 25,000 cabin crew from over 140 countries, speaking more than 70 languages.
All crew complete an eight-week onboarding programme covering Safety, Emergency Procedures, Medical Training, and Service and Hospitality.
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