Emirates Unveils World’s First Fully Electric Premium Economy Seat With Privacy Screen
By Thasmiya
Dubai-based Emirates has unveiled what it says is the **world’s first fully electrically powered Premium Economy seat**, bringing Business Class-style privacy and greater personal control to its Premium Economy cabin.
Announced on September 3, 2026, the new seats will debut on Emirates’ newly delivered **Airbus A350 aircraft** and feature a full-height electric privacy divider between every seat.
## **What makes the new Emirates seat different?**
The biggest change is the **full-height adjustable privacy screen**.
Passengers can raise or lower the divider at the touch of a button and lock it into position. This allows travellers to create a more private space while sleeping, working, eating or watching entertainment.
According to Emirates, this is the **first full-height electrically adjustable privacy divider offered in a Premium Economy cabin worldwide**.
## **The entire seat is electrically adjustable**
Privacy is not the only electric feature.
This is also Emirates’ first **fully electrically powered Premium Economy seat**, allowing passengers to change their seating position using an integrated Passenger Control Unit.
Preset options include **lounge mode and meal mode**, making it easier to adjust the seat without manually changing its position.
## **Only 28 Premium Economy seats on the new A350**
The new Premium Economy cabin on these Airbus A350 aircraft will have just **28 seats arranged in a 2-3-2 configuration**.
Each seat is approximately **20 inches wide**, while seat pitch reaches up to **39 inches**.
The seat can also recline into a cradle-style position without intruding into the space of the passenger sitting behind.
## **New U-Dream headrest**
Emirates has also introduced the U-Dream headrest by Safran Seats to Premium Economy.
The leather headrest includes adjustable wings that passengers can position around their head and neck for additional support.
A leather footrest provides additional leg support and can be manually deployed during the flight.
## **Wireless charging comes to Premium Economy**
Another major addition is **wireless device charging**, which Emirates says is being introduced to its Premium Economy cabin for the first time.
Every seat also includes USB-C charging.
Passengers will have an integrated phone holder built into the tray table, allowing a smartphone to function as a convenient second screen while eating or using the main entertainment system.
## **A 13.3-inch 4K HDR entertainment screen**
Each new Premium Economy seat includes a **13.3-inch 4K HDR touchscreen** for Emirates’ ice inflight entertainment system.
The newly delivered A350s also introduce additional aircraft-camera views.
Along with existing forward and downward views, passengers will be able to watch **left and right exterior camera perspectives** during their journey.
## **Premium Economy dining stays closer to Business Class**
Emirates is continuing its more premium dining approach in the cabin.
Passengers receive regionally inspired meals served on **Royal Doulton china**, accompanied by linen napkins and Robert Welch stainless-steel cutlery.
The airline also offers a curated selection of wines and sparkling beverages specifically for Premium Economy customers.
## **New amenity kits for long-haul passengers**
Premium Economy passengers travelling on long-haul flights will also receive reusable amenity kits developed in partnership with United for Wildlife.
The kits use bio-based materials, including cactus-leather alternatives, and include Aveda skincare products alongside travel essentials such as socks, eyeshades, earplugs and a dental kit.
## **Which Emirates aircraft will get the new seats?**
The seats are debuting aboard **newly received Airbus A350 aircraft**.
This distinction is important because Emirates already operates Premium Economy on A350s as well as retrofitted Airbus A380s and Boeing 777s. The newly announced electrically powered seat is a new-generation product being introduced on newly delivered A350s rather than an announcement that every existing Premium Economy seat has immediately been replaced.
Passengers should therefore check the aircraft operating their specific flight when booking if they specifically want to experience the newest seat.
## **Emirates continues expanding Premium Economy**
Emirates launched its full Premium Economy experience in 2022 and has since been steadily expanding the cabin across its international network.
The airline says Premium Economy is now available across all markets currently served by its A350 aircraft, while retrofitted A380s and Boeing 777s are bringing the cabin to additional destinations.
The new electrically powered seat represents the next stage of that strategy, increasingly narrowing the gap between traditional Premium Economy and some Business Class experiences.
## **Why this matters**
Premium Economy has traditionally been positioned mainly around extra legroom, wider seats and upgraded meals.
Emirates is now pushing the category further by introducing something normally associated with higher cabins: **personal privacy**.
With an electrically adjustable full-height divider, powered seating positions, wireless charging, a 4K entertainment screen, improved head support and a relatively intimate 28-seat cabin, the airline is attempting to make Premium Economy considerably more private without requiring passengers to book Business Class.
For travellers flying on Emirates’ newest A350s, Premium Economy is about to look very different.
## **Source Credits**
Primary information source/resource owner: Emirates Newsroom. Additional verification: Government of Dubai Media Office, The National, Gulf News and Khaleej Times.
Read the official Emirates announcement
## **Image Preview & Credits**
The official announcement includes downloadable media showing the **new electric Premium Economy seat, full-height privacy screen, U-Dream headrest, wireless charger, integrated phone holder and powered seating positions**.
**Image credit:** Emirates **Image/resource owner:** Emirates Open the official Emirates media page and images