Emirates has announced plans to deploy newly retrofitted Boeing 777s on its second and third daily flights between Dubai and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
These upgrades will make Riyadh the first city in the Middle East and one of the few destinations in the airline’s network to be served exclusively with its latest retrofitted aircraft, Emirates announced in a press release on March 17, 2025.
The first flights featuring a refurbished Emirates Boeing 777 will commence on March 30, 2025. Furthermore, the retrofitted Boeing 777 will be used for the third service, starting with six flights per week from May 7, 2025. Starting from August 11, 2025, the aircraft will operate daily flights.
The newly refurbished Emirates Boeing 777 was first introduced to Riyadh in October 2024. Following positive customer feedback and demand, Emirates announced it is expanding its Boeing 777 premium products “for a better experience in the skies across every cabin class.”
The airline stated plans to increase its network of cities served by more of this fleet type in the coming weeks and months.
The latest refurbished Emirates Boeing 777s feature Premium Economy seats in a 2-4-2 arrangement. The upgraded Business Class cabin has a 1-2-1 layout, allowing direct aisle access. Additionally, Emirates’ refurbished aircraft includes First Class suites and an updated Economy Class cabin.
In November 2024, Emirates also introduced Chauffeur-Drive Services (CDS) in Riyadh, providing First and Business Class passengers with a premium door-to-door journey.
Riyadh is the first and only regional destination offering CDS for premium customers, and Emirates is the only airline exclusively offering this service in Riyadh.
The airline currently operates 72 weekly flights to four gateways in Saudi Arabia on a mixed fleet of Boeing 777s and A380s.