Airlines in the GCC are considered to be among the best in the world. The region has invested heavily in not only its airports but also its airplanes, providing luxurious services and top-notch cabins.
What was the methodology used in ranking the airlines?
In a survey, customers ranked 3 main areas: the cabin service, the airport, and the onboard product on a scale of 1 to 5, which was then applied to come up with the list.
Related: GCC Countries Have Approved a Unified Visa – The Schengen Visa of the Gulf region
Below, we list GCC airlines that were ranked among the top 100 best airlines in the world in the 2025 Skytrax awards.
Gulf-Carriers in the 2025 Top 100
- Qatar Airways
- 2025 global rank: 1 – retained top spot and has been named best airline for the 9th time.
- 2024 rank: 1
- Emirates
- 2025 global rank: 4 — retained a top‑five position but lost one place.
- 2024 rank: 3 — the world’s 3rd best, also #2 Middle East
- Saudia
- 2025 global rank: 17 – jumped 3 places
- 2024 rank: 20 — Middle East #4; also named Most Improved Airline 2024
- Etihad Airways
- 2025 global rank: 26 – dropped a couple of places. This could be attributed more to the onboard product.
- 2024 rank: 19 — top‑20 global, ranked 3rd in Middle East
- Gulf Air
- 2025 global rank: 35 — maintained presence in Top 100
- 2024 rank: 40 – ranked 6th Middle East
- Oman Air
- 2025 global rank: 48
- 2024 rank: 25 — Middle East #5; won Best Staff Service in the region
High-Flying (Low-cost carriers) LCCs in Top 100
- flynas
- 2025 global rank: 58
- 2024 rank 50
- flydubai
- 2025 global rank: 74
- 2024 rank: 68
Airlines that missed the top 100
- Kuwait Airways
- Air Arabia
Summary of Regional Standings (2024 vs 2025)
| Airline | 2025 Rank | 2024 Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Qatar Airways | 1 | 1 |
| Emirates | 4 | 3 |
| Saudia | 17 | 20 |
| Etihad | 26 | 19 |
| Gulf Air | 35 | 40 |
| Oman Air | 48 | 25 |
| flynas | 58 | 50 |
| flydubai | 74 | 68 |
Final Verdict
Gulf carriers remain powerhouse contenders in global rankings:
- Qatar Airways, Emirates, and Etihad continue to hold top‑tier positions, reinforcing the Gulf’s aviation dominance.
- Saudia made significant improvement from the 2024 rankings, earning the title of the 3rd best Gulf carrier in the world.
- Oman Air stands out for staff excellence.
- LCCs like flynas, flydubai are gaining traction, marking steady progress in quality.
