Emirates and the Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) have signed a partnership agreement at the 2026 Arabian Travel Market to strengthen collaboration and support the growth of inbound tourism to Kenya. The partnership will focus on promoting Kenya across key markets served through Emirates’ global network and building on the strong demand for the destination.

The agreement was signed by Adil Al Ghaith, Emirates’ Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations, Centre, and June Chepkemei, Chief Executive Officer of the Kenya Tourism Board. The signing took place in the presence of Ambassador (Professor) Julius K. Bitok, CBS, Principal Secretary, State Department for Tourism, along with Adnan Kazim, Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer, Rashid Alardha, Vice President of Commercial Operations for Sub-Saharan Africa, Emirates, Christophe Leloup, Emirates’ Country Manager in Kenya, and other senior officials.

“Kenya has been an important market for Emirates for over three decades, and our commitment goes much deeper than operations and connections. We’ve consistently invested in our presence in the market, working closely with travel trade partners and tourism stakeholders to stimulate inbound travel, and contribute positively to the global perception of Kenya. Nairobi remains one of the top 5 busiest gateways for Emirates in Africa, with significant traffic coming from UK and Europe, as well as the US. This partnership solidifies that longstanding commitment, enhancing our collaboration with the Kenya Tourism Board and the full, thriving tourism ecosystem across Nairobi and Kenya,” said Adil Al Ghaith.

June Chepkemei said, “We are delighted to partner with Emirates to strengthen Kenya’s global tourism profile and showcase the remarkable experiences our destination offers to travellers around the world. Emirates’ extensive international network and strong reach in both established and emerging markets will help us build on the growing demand for Kenya and unlock new opportunities to attract more visitors. This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to promoting Kenya as a leading, diverse and unforgettable destination, while supporting the continued growth of inbound tourism and the many communities that benefit from it.”

Tourism remains an important part of Kenya’s economy, supporting employment and communities across the country. The Kenya Tourism Board is working towards establishing Kenya as a leading tourism destination in Africa, with a year-round calendar featuring diverse, sustainable and authentic experiences for international visitors.

Under the partnership, Emirates and KTB will explore joint initiatives to promote Kenya in key markets across the airline’s global network. The initiatives will highlight Kenya’s year-round tourism offerings and encourage more travellers to visit the destination.

The two partners will also work on programmes for travel trade partners and tour operators, including incentives, familiarisation trips and other marketing initiatives designed to build awareness of Kenya’s tourism experiences.

Emirates marked 30 years of operations to Nairobi last year, building longstanding relationships with local communities and the travel trade ecosystem. Earlier this month, Emirates Holidays, the airline’s tour operating arm, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Kenya Association of Travel Agents. The initiative aims to support outbound travel by providing more than 300 travel agencies with enhanced product and network information and promotional opportunities.