The new service, which offers connections in each direction with Emirates’ Auckland and Christchurch flights, makes Edinburgh the airline’s second destination in Scotland and the eighth in the United Kingdom.

Emirates also flies to Glasgow, as well as three London airports (Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted), and Manchester, Birmingham and Newcastle.

Hubert Frach, Emirates Divisional Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations West, noted that there would now be a direct flight option from Asia and Australasia to Scotland’s city that is most visited by tourists.

Gordon Dewar, Chief Executive, Edinburgh Airport, said: “This is a great day for Scotland and Edinburgh. We know the power of connectivity – the more we can connect with cities and countries across the globe, the more opportunity for passengers. It makes our country stronger and culturally richer.

“Our partnership with a world class brand like Emirates strengthens and grows our country’s connectivity and we look forward to working with them to the benefit of passengers across the world. We’ve built our success on making Edinburgh where Scotland meets the world and today’s flight see us take a major step on that journey.”

The Boeing 777 deployed on the Dubai-Edinburgh route has a three-class cabin configuration, with eight private suites in First Class, 42 lie flat seats in Business Class and 304 spacious seats in Economy Class. As with all Emirates’ flights to the UK, customers will enjoy the more than 3500 channels of on demand audio and visual entertainment on the airline’s award-winning ice system, as well as the warm hospitality from its multinational cabin crew.