Etihad Airways has received the coveted award for Best First Class at the annual Ultratravel Middle East Awards (Ultras) ceremony, which was held yesterday, Wednesday, at the Burj Al Arab Jumeirah hotel in Dubai.

The award is another major accolade for the UAE national airline's First Class experience, which has repeatedly been voted best in the world.

The Ultras are voted for by the readers of Ultratravel Middle East, the regional edition of the UK's exclusive Ultratravel magazine, a high-end luxury travel publication which was launched in the UK in 2004 in partnership with the Daily Telegraph. Ultratravel Middle East is distributed in English and Arabic within The National and Al Ittihad newspapers.

Peter Baumgartner, Etihad Airways' chief commercial officer, said: "This award further validates and recognises the tremendous efforts which have gone in to creating the most innovative, stylish and luxurious First Class service in the air. We are incredibly proud to receive it.

"This year has been a momentous one for Etihad Airways. The revolutionary cabin concepts we launched in 2014 are now a reality, already flying on our new fleet of Airbus A380 and Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft.

Nick Perry, chairman of Ultratravel, said, "With the introduction of revolutionary inflight innovations such as The Residence, with its three rooms, and the airline's new First Apartments and First Suites, Etihad Airways is redefining what world-class hospitality and First Class travel can be for its guests."