English Reference

Word

emirates

Phoneticsemi·rates

US/ˈɛmɝˌeɪts/

UK/ˈɛmɪɹˌeɪts/

Definitions

01the country

B1

n. a short way of saying the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

n. a common ellipsis for the United Arab Emirates, a country in Western Asia.

“Many people from around the world move to the Emirates for work.”

“The Emirates has seen rapid economic diversification over the last few decades, moving away from a purely oil-based economy.”

Synonyms

UAEUnited Arab Emirates

02the airline

B1 · Computing

n. a major international airline based in Dubai.

n. one of the two flag carrier airlines of the United Arab Emirates, headquartered in Dubai.

“We flew with Emirates on our trip to Australia last year.”

“Emirates operates a vast network of long-haul flights, connecting passengers through its primary hub at Dubai International Airport.”

03territories

B2

n. the plural form of 'emirate', meaning areas or countries ruled by an emir.

n. the plural form of the common noun 'emirate', referring to the rank, office, or territorial jurisdiction of an emir.

“The country is made up of seven different emirates.”

“Historically, these coastal emirates maintained individual treaties with the British government before forming a unified federation.”

04the stadium

B2 · Sport

n. the home stadium of Arsenal Football Club in London.

n. the Emirates Stadium, a major football venue in Holloway, London, and the home ground of Arsenal F.C.

“The fans walked from the station to the Emirates for the big match.”

“Since its opening in 2006, the Emirates has become one of the most iconic modern sporting arenas in the United Kingdom.”

British English

Synonyms

Ashburton Grove

Real-World Examples

“This was the second shipment and it was even bigger, with enough food to prepare more than 1m meals, as well as a Ramadan gift of dates from the United Arab Emirates.”
The Guardian · 5 Sept 2026
“But BRICS also includes the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, two countries that have faced Iranian attacks.”
Al Jazeera · 11 Sept 2026

Word family

emirateNounemiratesNoun

Domain

Aviation

This entry

Level
B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency
Frequent
Updated

Scan code

englishreference.com/q/emirates

English Reference