Emirates, the world’s largest international airline, has expanded its global retail footprint with the opening of its first Travel Store in Seoul, setting a new benchmark in travel retail and reinforcing its commitment to delivering innovative customer experiences in one of its key destinations in East Asia.
Emirates Travel Store in Seoul officially opened on 9 July in the presence of the airline’s senior executives; Nabil Sultan, Executive Vice President for Passenger Sales and Country Management; Orhan Abbas, Senior Vice President for Commercial Operations in the Far East and Jim Chang, Country Manager South Korea. The opening ceremony was also attended by His Excellency Abdulla Saif Ali Al Nuaimi, UAE Ambassador to the Republic of Korea as well as other distinguished guests and media partners.
Nabil Sultan commented: “As we mark 20 years of operations in South Korea, the opening of our travel store in Seoul not only celebrates our decades-long journey, but also delivers our reimagined travel retail experience to Korean travelers. This spaces aims to evolve the customer experience through more innovative solutions, translating our ‘Fly Better’ promise into a more tangible and locally relevant experience for our customers.”
First Class luxury, up and close, now in Seoul
Located in Jongno-gu, one of Seoul’s most vibrant business and lifestyle districts, the Emirates Travel Store offers a dedicated space to discover the airline’s signature products and services in a stylish, premium environment inspired by its onboard interiors.
Spanning 132 square metres, the store exudes warmth and classy elegance, with soft beige tones, ambient lighting, and the Ghaf Tree motif subtly woven into the interior. An indigenous evergreen plant, the Ghaf is considered the national tree of the United Arab Emirates, and has deep cultural and ecological significance. Thoughtfully arranged seating evokes the feel of Emirates’ premium lounges, blending comfort with refinement.
A key highlight of the space is the First Class Private Suite on display, offering visitors a glimpse into one of Emirates’ most iconic products. Guests can also connect with expert travel consultants at dedicated counters for flight bookings, itinerary planning, and personalized recommendations. The retail experience is further enhanced by smart technologies, including a self-service kiosk, an interactive selfie mirror, and dynamic digital displays showcasing Emirates’ latest routes, offers, and products.
20 years of connecting Korea to the World
Since launching operations in 2005, Emirates has been seamlessly connecting South Korea to the world, operating more than 14,000 flights and carrying over 5 million passengers between Seoul and Dubai to date. Today, the airline operates 10 weekly services and offers the newly retrofitted Boeing 777-300ER featuring Premium Economy and an upgraded Business Class on flights EK324/325 between the two gateways. Emirates remains committed to delivering a world-class service, expanding global connectivity, and strengthening its partnerships within the Korean market.
