**Emirates faces peak season for unaccompanied minors** Emirates is gearing up for one of its busiest periods for unaccompanied minor (UM) services, as school holidays begin in Dubai. The carrier reports that over 3,500 children will travel alone over the next two weeks. Over the past five years, more than 250,000 young passengers have used this service or the one dedicated to teenagers. The majority are under 11 years old. The heaviest traffic flows connect Dubai with key markets such as the United Kingdom, France, Russia, India, Egypt, and Kenya — a reflection of the dense long-haul network of the Dubai hub. **End-to-end enhanced supervision** Emirates highlights continuous accompaniment from check-in to arrival. "The service is designed to provide total peace of mind for parents," the airline states. Concretely, a dedicated agent takes charge of the child at the airport, accompanies them through security and immigration checks, and then to priority boarding. On board, the crew provides regular monitoring. Upon arrival, Emirates staff escort the child to the authorized person, with systematic identity verification — a requirement aligned with international safety standards. **Strict age-based rules** The service varies by passenger age. From 5 to 12 years, the service is mandatory with a ticket at adult fare. From 12 to 15 years, solo travel is allowed, and the service is optional (about USD 50 per flight). For connections, the service is limited to 8 hours in Dubai unless an exception is granted. Children in transit remain under supervision in dedicated areas and cannot stay overnight without specific care. These rules are consistent with standard policies of major international airlines for UMs, comparable to those of Air France-KLM or Lufthansa. **Ground and in-flight experience** At Dubai International Airport (DXB), Emirates relies on a recently renovated dedicated lounge. Children have access to relaxation areas, video games (PlayStation), Wi-Fi, and snacks, all under supervision. On board, the airline capitalizes on its award-winning "ice" entertainment system (Skytrax), with an extensive catalog of youth content. Specific services are also offered: seat selection, adapted meals, and even birthday celebrations. **A strategic niche segment** The transport of unaccompanied minors is a niche but strategic segment, especially on long-haul routes connecting large diasporas or international families. For Emirates, whose model relies on the Dubai hub, this service helps build loyalty among family customers and reinforces its "family-friendly" image.