Dubai is making progress in its efforts to promote international awareness of its attractions. The emirate is now firmly on the world sporting map and reaping the rewards of more publicity. Tennis had been added to the growing list of sporting events

Dubai is making progress in its efforts to promote international awareness of its attractions. The emirate is now firmly on the world sporting map and reaping the rewards of more publicity. Tennis had been added to the growing list of sporting events, with a BMW/Dubai Duty Free-sponsored tournament in February. This joins horse racing, golf,powerboat racing and snooker championships,which are all already established on the international tournament circuit.
Major investment is going into the Dubai-based Emirates airline, which added four new destinations last summer-Rome, Zurich, Paris and Jakarta--and on 14 April started operations to Dhahran, its 31st destination. Emirates now employs almost 3,500 staff, making it one of Dubai's largest employers.
What does "Emirates" stand for according to the context?

The Dubai-based Emirates airline.