Emirates to Ban All Power Bank Use Onboard From 1 October 2025

For many travellers, especially those flying long-haul, a power bank is a trusted travel buddy. Whether it’s keeping your phone alive for in-flight entertainment, charging your tablet for a Qur’an recitation playlist, or ensuring your camera is ready for post-Umrah snapshots, it’s a must-have.

But from 1 Oct 2025, Emirates will introduce new rules that completely ban the use of power banks onboard their flights — and yes, this applies to everyone, including Muslim travellers heading to Makkah, Madinah, or other destinations via Dubai.

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What exactly is changing?

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Emirates will still let passengers bring one power bank on board — but with strict conditions:

• Only one power bank is allowed per passenger.

• It must be under 100 Watt-hours (Wh) in capacity.

• The capacity rating must be clearly marked on the device.

• It must be carried in your hand luggage, not checked baggage (this rule already exists).

• During the flight:

  • You cannot use it to charge any device.

  • You cannot charge the power bank using the aircraft’s power supply.

• It must be stored in the seat pocket or under the seat in front of you — not in the overhead bin.

So, while you can still bring it, your power bank will essentially be “on holiday” during your flight.

Why is Emirates making this change?

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This isn’t about being inconvenient; it’s about safety.

Power banks use lithium-ion or lithium-polymer batteries. If these are overcharged or damaged, they can experience what’s called thermal runaway, a scary-sounding term for a chain reaction that causes the battery to overheat rapidly, potentially leading to fires, explosions, and even toxic gas release.

Many high-end devices like smartphones have built-in safety features to prevent overcharging. Unfortunately, many basic or budget power banks don’t, which increases the risk.

With the growing number of passengers using power banks, the aviation industry has seen more lithium battery-related incidents. Emirates’ safety review concluded that banning in-flight use and requiring specific storage will make it easier for cabin crew to access and extinguish a fire quickly if something goes wrong.

What this means for Muslim travellers

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If you’re flying with Emirates for Umrah, Hajj, or Muslim-friendly holidays, this new policy is something to plan around:

• Pre-download your essentials: Whether it’s a Qur’an app, Islamic podcasts, travel dua reminders, or your favourite halal food guides, make sure they’re ready before boarding.

• Charge before you fly: Fully charge your phone, tablet, and laptop at the airport or in the lounge.

• Pack wisely: Since you can’t use your power bank in-flight, consider bringing extra charged devices if you rely heavily on electronics during long journeys.

• Halal dining onboard: The good news? Emirates already serves halal-certified meals across its network, so your dining experience remains Muslim-friendly, just without the mid-flight top-up for your phone battery.

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Final thoughts

For Emirates, safety is non-negotiable. The airline’s decision may feel inconvenient, but it’s part of their proactive approach to protect passengers and crew from potential battery-related hazards.

For Muslim travellers, it’s a small adjustment that can be managed with a bit of planning. Think of it as a chance to enjoy the journey — maybe listen to a downloaded Surah Yasin, read a travel dua, or simply take in the view above the clouds, distraction-free.

After all, sometimes the best travel memories happen when we put our devices down.