Emirates airline is set to enhance its Dubai-Riyadh service by introducing newly retrofitted Boeing 777 aircraft for its second and third daily flights. The new flights will commence on March 30 and May 7, respectively.

These upgraded aircraft will provide passengers with the opportunity to experience the latest generation Business Class seats, as well as the highly acclaimed Premium Economy product, according to a statement from the airline. With this initiative, Riyadh becomes the first destination in the Gulf and the wider Middle East to be served by Emirates’ retrofitted Boeing 777s.

The upgraded Boeing 777s will operate as follows: the EK815 and EK816 flights will start with a refurbished Emirates Boeing 777 on March 30. From May 7, the airline will deploy the refurbished aircraft on its third service, EK817 and EK818, beginning with six flights per week. This service will transition to daily operations starting August 11, 2025.

Currently, Emirates operates 72 weekly flights to four key destinations in Saudi Arabia, utilizing a mix of Boeing 777s and A380s. In November 2024, the airline also launched the ‘Chauffeur-Drive Service’ in Riyadh, providing First and Business Class passengers with a convenient door-to-door travel option. The statement emphasized that Riyadh is the first and only regional destination to offer this service exclusively for premium customers, making Emirates the only airline providing this feature in the city.