Emirates Showcases the Evolution of Their Iconic Cabin Crew Uniform

Emirates has today showcased their iconic cabin crew uniforms throughout the years.  From 1985 to its current iteration in 2025, the Emirates cabin crew uniform is both evocative and emotive, capturing the glamour of flying with Emirates.

Emirates 1985 Female Cabin Crew Uniform - Courtesy Emirates

On Thursday (October 23, 2025), Emirates showcased the evolution of their iconic cabin crew uniforms through the years.  With heritage in every hemline, the iconic uniform of Emirates cabin crew is instantly recognized as a symbol of the world’s largest international airline.  From the carrier’s inception in 1985 to its current iteration in 2025, the Emirates cabin crew uniform is both evocative and emotive, capturing the glamour of flying with Emirates.

Emirates’ cabin crew uniform has been designed to be iconic and classic, with a color palette that never waivers.  With quality and durability as its most essential elements, Emirates rejects fast fashion and trends in favor of timeless style and sophistication.  Cabin crew members maintain their impeccable ‘Emirates look’ through a thoughtfully designed uniform that uses nano-coated fabrics for stain and crease resistance, ensuring it stays immaculate even after long-haul flights.

Emirates Original 1985 Cabin Crew Uniform - Courtesy Emirates

In 1985, Emirates unveiled their first-ever cabin crew uniform for 80 crew members, in the signature brand colors of red and gold.  Female cabin crew were presented with warm sandy-beige, round-bordered jackets with red piping around the edges, and subtle shoulder pads in keeping with 1980’s era styling.  The skirt at the time was cut straight, hanging just below the knee with one elegant pleat in the middle.  Paired with a cream blouse and a red ribbon tied in a bow around the collar, the look was complete with a red hat featuring the Emirates Arabic logo, a white scarf, and black leather shoes.  Male cabin crew and pilots wore a classic grey suit with a red tie, white shirt, gold insignia, and black leather shoes.

Emirates Iconic Cabin Crew Uniform Through the Years - Courtesy Emirates

Emirates 1987 Cabin Crew Uniforms - Courtesy Emirates

In 1987, Emirates introduced a refreshed look for female crew members. The uniform featured a double-breasted beige jacket with gold buttons, a longer skirt with an extended pleat, a white blouse with a subtle Emirates logo pattern, and the signature red hat and veil.  Male crew members continued to wear the original 1985 uniform.  For both winter and summer, all 180 cabin crew members wore a pochette in the pockets that symbolized the UAE flag.  By the end of 1987, the team decided to introduce a ‘Summer Safari’ dress for female crew, designed to be lighter and more comfortable for the warmer weather.  Female crew in First Class also wore a traditional Arabic dress called a ‘Thoub,’ to serve Arabic coffee and dates, adding a sophisticated cultural touch.

In 1997, Emirates collaborated with legendary Spanish designer Paco Rabanne, to redesign the uniforms and give them a modern, stylish update. The female uniform retained the classic beige and red color scheme, but featured updated cuts and fits in the clean aesthetic of the 1990’s, with the addition of brown bags and brown shoes.  For female cabin crew, Rabanne designed a shapely skirt and blouse with a round neck and jacquard logo print, under a slimline jacket with a mandarin collar.  Male cabin crew members wore navy blue jackets paired with beige trousers and brown shoes.

Emirates 1997 Cabin Crew Uniform - Courtesy Emirates

The next iteration of the Emirates uniform was introduced in July 2008, marking the arrival of the airline’s first Airbus A380.  Designed by Emirates’ in-house team in collaboration with Simon Jersey, the updated look preserved the iconic beige and red color palette for the airline’s now sizeable 11,000-member cabin crew team.  The female uniform saw the introduction of a subtle pinstripe, four kick pleats in the skirt revealing more signature Emirates’ red, and red trims throughout the suiting. The hat was redesigned, with the Emirates logo positioned on the side in a wing shape. Accessories like shoes, belts and bags were a slightly darker maroon red to complement the uniform’s trims and the iconic hat.  The male uniform was reintroduced in a rich, chocolate brown pinstripe with subtle red trim, complemented by a cream shirt and a striped tie in shades of gold, brown, and red.

Emirates 2008 Cabin Crew Uniform - Courtesy Emirates

In 2023 Emirates began to offer female cabin crew a range of 15 shoe styles to personally choose from, catering to individual comfort and taste.  The expansive range of Spanish-manufactured, 100 percent leather male and female shoes, offers a variety of heights, widths, shapes and styles, ensuring comfort, style and fit for every foot.  The latest female shoes were introduced with matching red leather handbags, and belts, in a brighter red color, perfectly complementing the pleat of the skirt and the trim of the uniform – and leaning into the iconic red shade that has now become synonymous with Emirates.  The iconic uniform now empowers 25,000 cabin crew members flying to more than 140 destinations to be ‘runway ready’ in every sense.

Source: Emirates