Emirates, Dubai’s flagship airline, has launched its first travel store in Karachi. This marks a significant milestone as the airline’s inaugural experiential retail concept in West Asia.
Located at Sky Tower, Karachi Towers, on Abdul Sattar Edhi Avenue in Clifton, the 183-square-meter store blends technology with immersive experiences. It aims to enhance customer engagement effectively.
Passengers can explore the latest inflight products and learn about destinations within the airline’s extensive network. Moreover, on-site staff assist with trip planning, ticket bookings, and managing travel preferences. This ensures a seamless experience for customers.
Essa Sulaiman Ahmad, Emirates’ Senior Vice President for Commercial Operations, West Asia and Indian Ocean, inaugurated the store. He was joined by Hamad Obaid Ibrahim Salem Al-Zaabi, UAE Ambassador to Pakistan. Commenting on the launch, Ahmad stated, “Karachi was one of Emirates’ first destinations when we began operations in 1985. Opening our first Emirates Travel Store in West Asia here underscores our commitment to Pakistan. We serve this market with five gateways.”
The event also included Bakheet Ateeq Al-Rumaithi, Consul General of the UAE in Karachi. Mohammed Al Nahari Alhashmi, Emirates’ Vice President for Pakistan, was also present.
The store features innovative self-service kiosks and a selfie mirror. These allow customers to capture moments against backdrops of popular Emirates destinations. Additionally, a curated collection of exclusive Emirates-branded merchandise and travel accessories is available.
In addition to showcasing products, the customer service counters and kiosks facilitate flight reservations and ticketing for Emirates and Emirates Holidays. This Karachi launch follows the airline’s earlier openings in Hong Kong and London. This initiative highlights its global expansion of experiential travel stores.
In its 2024-25 half-year results, the airlines revealed an investment of Dh44 million for new on-ground facilities. These include premium lounges in London Stansted and Jeddah, along with renovations at Paris Charles De Gaulle.
