How Emirates staff race against clock to return lost items to passengers


Nick Webster
  • English
  • Arabic

A rapid return airport service for lost items operated by Emirates airline reunited more than 15,000 possessions with their owners, including more than 2,000 within an hour.

The airline says it has a “golden hour philosophy” to reach transit passengers in particular before they board a connecting flight to another part of the world.

Of the 15,000 or so items lost and returned in 2019, the most recent figures available, 2,076 were found and returned within that golden hour.

We have a dedicated team who work diligently to locate their owners, and help reunite them as quickly and efficiently as possible
Emirates spokeswoman

Once the passenger boards an outbound flight and takes off, the return takes longer but can usually be placed on a subsequent flight on the airline's global network of routes.

“Emirates takes its responsibility to recover and return lost items to their owners very seriously,” a spokeswoman said.

“We have a dedicated team of Emirates Group Security personnel who work hand in hand with Dubai Airports, police and other law enforcement agencies to handle lost items, work diligently to locate their owners, and help reunite them as quickly and efficiently as possible.

“This is especially true for connecting passengers who spend a short time with us while transiting at Dubai International Airport.”

A German passenger in Dubai receives a pleasant surprise as police return 33,600 euros ($37,990) he had lost. Photo: Dubai Police
A German passenger in Dubai receives a pleasant surprise as police return 33,600 euros ($37,990) he had lost. Photo: Dubai Police

The most important items given priority for the return service are travel documents, wallets, purses, mobile phones and other electrical devices.

Aside from lost goods returned within an hour of them being misplaced, Emirates was also able to recover 2,938 items within six hours in 2019.

Luxury watches, bags of cash and tech devices are commonly left behind at Dubai International Airport, and handed to security.

Earlier this month, American YouTube star Casey Neistat told his millions of followers on social media how Emirates had stepped in to return the Apple iWatch he left behind at security clearance on a recent trip to Dubai.

The watch's strap was custom-made, marked with 'CN22, New York City' and a phone number, making it easy to identify for security personnel who found the watch and handed it to Emirates.

About six hours after Mr Neistat lost the watch, the airline contacted him to say they had found it and were going to deliver it to him on the next available flight to the US.

Although some people thought Mr Neistat was afforded special treatment because he has almost 13 million YouTube subscribers, Emirates said all passengers were given the same service.

YouTube star Casey Neistat had his Apple iWatch flown to California by Emirates after he left it at Dubai International Airport. Photo: Twitter / Casey Neistat
YouTube star Casey Neistat had his Apple iWatch flown to California by Emirates after he left it at Dubai International Airport. Photo: Twitter / Casey Neistat
The specs

Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors

Power: Combined output 920hp

Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic

Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km

On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025

Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000

The schedule

December 5 - 23: Shooting competition, Al Dhafra Shooting Club

December 9 - 24: Handicrafts competition, from 4pm until 10pm, Heritage Souq

December 11 - 20: Dates competition, from 4pm

December 12 - 20: Sour milk competition

December 13: Falcon beauty competition

December 14 and 20: Saluki races

December 15: Arabian horse races, from 4pm

December 16 - 19: Falconry competition

December 18: Camel milk competition, from 7.30 - 9.30 am

December 20 and 21: Sheep beauty competition, from 10am

December 22: The best herd of 30 camels

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups

Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.

Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.

Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.

Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.

Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.

Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.

Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.

Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.

Director: Laxman Utekar

Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna

Rating: 1/5

THE BIO

Ms Al Ameri likes the variety of her job, and the daily environmental challenges she is presented with.

Regular contact with wildlife is the most appealing part of her role at the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi.

She loves to explore new destinations and lives by her motto of being a voice in the world, and not an echo.

She is the youngest of three children, and has a brother and sister.

Her favourite book, Moby Dick by Herman Melville helped inspire her towards a career exploring  the natural world.

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

WEST ASIA RUGBY 2017/18 SEASON ROLL OF HONOUR

Western Clubs Champions League
Winners: Abu Dhabi Harlequins
Runners up: Bahrain

Dubai Rugby Sevens
Winners: Dubai Exiles
Runners up: Jebel Ali Dragons

West Asia Premiership
Winners: Jebel Ali Dragons
Runners up: Abu Dhabi Harlequins

UAE Premiership Cup
Winners: Abu Dhabi Harlequins
Runners up: Dubai Exiles

UAE Premiership
Winners: Dubai Exiles
Runners up: Abu Dhabi Harlequins

RESULT

Huddersfield Town 1 Manchester City 2
Huddersfield: Otamendi (45' 1 og), van La Parra (red card 90' 6)
Man City: Agüero (47' pen), Sterling (84')

Man of the match: Christopher Schindler (Huddersfield Town)

The%C2%A0specs%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Etwo%20permanent%20magnet%20synchronous%20motors%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Etwo-speed%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E625hp%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E850Nm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERange%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E456km%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Efrom%20Dh737%2C480%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Enow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs

AT4 Ultimate, as tested

Engine: 6.2-litre V8

Power: 420hp

Torque: 623Nm

Transmission: 10-speed automatic

Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)

On sale: Now

Dhadak 2

Director: Shazia Iqbal

Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri 

Rating: 1/5

Rebel%20Moon%20-%20Part%20One%3A%20A%20Child%20of%20Fire
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What's in the deal?

Agreement aims to boost trade by £25.5bn a year in the long run, compared with a total of £42.6bn in 2024

India will slash levies on medical devices, machinery, cosmetics, soft drinks and lamb.

India will also cut automotive tariffs to 10% under a quota from over 100% currently.

Indian employees in the UK will receive three years exemption from social security payments

India expects 99% of exports to benefit from zero duty, raising opportunities for textiles, marine products, footwear and jewellery

UPI facts

More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions

SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20M3%20MACBOOK%20AIR%20(13%22)
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Updated: February 14, 2022, 10:51 AM`