Emirates’ New Premium Economy Seat Has an Industry-First Privacy Feature

Updated: September 3, 2026, 11:36am CDT

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Inside Emirates’ New Premium Economy Seat
Final Thoughts

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Emirates already has one of the more impressive premium economy cabins out there, and now it’s adding something you’d typically expect to find in business class.

The airline is introducing a new fully electric premium economy seat with a full-height adjustable privacy divider between every seat — a first for the industry. The new seats will debut on newly delivered Airbus A350 aircraft and come with several other upgrades, including electric seat controls, wireless charging, and improved inflight entertainment.

Let’s take a closer look at what Emirates’ newest premium economy product has to offer.

Inside Emirates’ New Premium Economy Seat

The biggest change is the new privacy divider. Each premium economy seat will have a full-height divider that you can raise or lower electronically and lock into place.

That means if you’re traveling solo and sitting next to a stranger, you’ll have a little more personal space — something you don’t often get in premium economy.

Emirates Privacy Divider Passenger Premium Economy — Emirates’ premium economy privacy divider is an industry first. Image Credit: Emirates

The seat is also Emirates’ first fully electric premium economy seat, with controls that let you adjust your position at the touch of a button. There are even preset lounge and meal modes.

Premum Economy controls Emirates — The new electric seat adjusts with the touch of a button. Image Credit: Emirates

Emirates will install just 28 of these seats in a 2-3-2 configuration on newly delivered A350s. Each is 20 inches wide with up to 39 inches of pitch and reclines into a cradle position without eating up space from the passenger behind you. Other upgrades include an adjustable U-Dream headrest, a leather footrest, wireless charging, USB-C ports, and a tray table with a built-in phone holder.

Emirates recline seat premium economy — The new recline should make long-haul flights more comfortable. Image Credit: Emirates

Additionally, passengers will have a 13.3-inch 4K HDR touchscreen with Emirates’ “ice” entertainment system, while the newest A350 aircraft adds left- and right-facing exterior camera views.

Emirates Premium Economy IFE — Emirates is upgrading the premium economy IFE screen, too. Image Credit: Emirates

Emirates is keeping the rest of its premium economy experience largely unchanged, including regionally inspired meals served on real china, upgraded wines and sparkling wines, and reusable amenity kits with Aveda skincare products on long-haul flights.

Hot Tip:

Emirates hasn’t said exactly when the new premium economy seats will enter service or whether they’ll eventually be added to its A380s and Boeing 777s. For now, look for them exclusively on newly delivered A350s.

Final Thoughts

Emirates already has one of the better premium economy products out there, and these new seats should make it even better. The industry-first privacy divider is a welcome addition, especially if you’ve ever spent a long flight sitting next to a stranger.

Now we just need to know when these seats will start flying — and whether Emirates eventually plans to bring them to more aircraft.