Etihad is named as the world’s safest airline in global safety rankings. The UAE has strengthened its status as a global aviation powerhouse, as three national airlines were ranked among the top five safest airlines to fly globally, with Etihad Airways ranking at the top of the list in 2026, according to AirlineRatings.
This is the first in the region of all the Gulf carriers to be ranked as the safest airline in the world, and this is the main result of long-term investments the UAE has made in aviation safety, new fleets, and operational efficiency. From Dubai’s perspective, the success emphasizes its dedication to aviation safety.
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Etihad Leads Global Safety Rankings
The 2026 ranking of the airline safety rating as presented by AirlineRatings, ranked Etihad Airways as the first, followed by Cathay Pacific, Qantas, Qatar Airways, and Emirates, the top five. Other companies that are ranked among the top 10 companies include Air New Zealand, Singapore Airlines, EVA Air, Virgin Australia, and Korean Air.
The research rated 25 full-service and major-budget carriers on an annual basis, using the factors of fleet age, history of incidents, training of pilots, operational standards, and compliance with international safety standards. The success of Etihad was pointed out by Sharon Petersen, the CEO of AirlineRatings.
It is the first year that a Gulf carrier has been ranked top. Etihad did this by a mix of factors: young fleet, cockpit safety improvements, especially in turbulence, no accidents in its history, the lowest incident rate of any airline in the list, she said. She also reported that Etihad underwent an independent onboard safety audit.
UAE Aviation Investments Paying Off
The good performance of the UAE airlines indicates that it has invested billions of dirhams in the next generation of fuel-efficient airplanes, advanced safety systems, and continuous crew training.
At the Dubai Airshow 2025, Emirates, Etihad Airways, and flydubai placed a joint order of over 500 commercial and cargo aircraft, worth almost Dh420 billion, one of the largest aircraft order events in the history of the aviation industry.
These investments will be at the core of the UAE’s plan to keep safety standards in the world and enhance communications and passenger experience.
Pride across the Nation
According to Etihad Airways CEO Antonoaldo Neves, the award is not only a reward for the work of the airline but also the aviation excellence of the UAE. We are also immensely delighted to be awarded one of the most admired airline safety ratings by AirlineRatings in the world. Being the first Gulf carrier to hold this status demonstrates how strong our safety culture is and how committed our people are to what they do and how well our region can provide aviation.
Narrow Margins Among the World’s Safest Airlines
AirlineRatings emphasized that there are only negligible differences between the highest-ranked airlines and that these differences are not to be misinterpreted.
Although all airlines in the list have documented accidents, including tail strikes and engine failures, the rate of incidents per flight varies between 0.002 and 0.09, which can be considered a sign of the relative safety of contemporary aviation.
In the contemporary aviation industry, where major accidents are uncommon, making the top 25 list is not only an indicator of superior aircraft and operations, but it is also about the value of professional aircrew and effective safety measures, Petersen said.
flydubai Ranks Among Safest Budget Airlines
The UAE’s success extended into the low-cost segment as flydubai ranked fourth among the world’s safest budget airlines, making it the only regional carrier to feature in the top 10 of this category.
The 10 safest budget airlines for 2026 are:
- HK Express
- Jetstar Airways
- Scoot
- flydubai
- EasyJet Group
- AirBaltic
- VietJet Air
- Wizz Air Group
- AirAsia Group
HK Express claimed the top position for the second consecutive year, driven by a modern fleet, extremely low incident rates, and near-perfect safety audit results.
Global Recognition for UAE Aviation
Only airlines with over 25 aircraft were included in the rankings, meaning that the focus was on large high-frequency airlines, an area in which UAE airlines have been performing exceptionally.
As Etihad is the safest airline in the world, Emirates is in the top five airlines globally, and flydubai leads the budget airlines in the region, the UAE remains on the cutting edge of aviation safety, supported by investment, regulation, and a culture of safety first across the airlines.