The minute you step into the first Emirates World retail store in Manila, which is also the first in Southeast Asia and only fifth in the world (the rest are in Dubai, London, Hong Kong, and Nairobi), you might never want to book your flights online again.  

As you enter the 221-square-meter space at the Shangri-La The Fort in Bonifacio Global City, you’ll be greeted by key features like the A380 onboard lounge display, providing visitors with a firsthand look at the premium touches that define Emirates' in-flight luxury. The store also has a selection of Emirates-branded merchandise and travel accessories, including the latest NBA collection for basketball fans. 

Sure, there is ground staff ready to help you book your flights and answer your queries, but Emirates World is also equipped with interactive self-service screens, where customers can quickly browse flight options, check availability, and more, enhancing the convenience of travel planning.

Only a few places in the world have Emirates World, and the airline says it established its presence in Manila to strengthen its connection with the Philippines, one of its stronger markets, with more stores set to progressively roll out to key markets with an estimated investment of AED 100 million over the next three years as part of the airline’s retail strategy. 

Adnan Kazim, Emirates' deputy president and chief commercial officer, stated that the store is designed to serve as a one-stop shop where customers can explore Emirates' best-in-class products and services, providing visitors a glimpse of their onboard hospitality and excellence.

The Philippines has been a significant market for Emirates since it began operations in Manila in 1990. Currently, the airline operates 28 weekly flights, offering approximately 22,700 weekly seats to and from Dubai, connecting travelers to over 140 destinations worldwide.

Last year, Emirates inked an interline agreement with Philippine Airlines (PAL), expanding its network to more domestic points in the Philippines via Manila, Cebu and Clark. Under the agreement, PAL’s customers can also benefit from increased connectivity to nine international points via Dubai including Amman, Birmingham, Cape Town, Dammam, Dublin, Lisbon, Manchester, Muscat, and Riyadh.

Travelers flying with Emirates can enjoy the best experience in the sky with an unmatched culinary experience, regionally inspired multi-course menus developed by a team of award-winning chefs complemented by a wide selection of premium beverages. Customers can sit back and relax with more than 6,500 channels of carefully curated global entertainment content featuring movies, TV shows, music, podcasts, games, audiobooks and more with ice, Emirates’ award-winning inflight entertainment system.

The inauguration of the ceremony last Wednesday, Nov. 20, was attended by notable figures, including the Philippines' First Lady, Liza Araneta Marcos, UAE Ambassador to the Philippines, His Excellency Mohamed Obaid Al Qataam Al Zaabi, and Adnan Kazim, Emirates'  deputy president.