HH Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum embarked on his career in the aviation industry in 1985 when he was appointed President of the Dubai Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) – the governing body that oversaw the activities of Dubai International and Dubai Duty Free, among others.
In the same year Emirates Airline – Dubai’s international carrier - was launched with Sheikh Ahmed as its Chairman. He is now the Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline & Group, which includes dnata – the region’s leading travel services and ground handling company, and other aviation related entities.
Under Sheikh Ahmed’s leadership, the DCA underwent an organisational restructuring in April 2007 resulting in the creation of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA) as the local regulatory body, and Dubai Airports as the owner and operator of Dubai’s airports – Dubai International and Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International. Following the restructuring, Sheikh Ahmed became the President of DCAA and Chairman of Dubai Airports.
The remarkable growth of Dubai International – from just 45 airlines connecting to 80 destinations, and an annual throughput of 3.8 million passengers in 1985, to a network of over 220 destinations served by more than 130 airlines, and passenger traffic exceeding 40 million, is testimony to Sheikh Ahmed’s grand vision and foresight.
The opening of Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International (DWC), Dubai’s airport of the future on June 27, 2010 was a historical moment for Dubai and a realisation of Sheikh Ahmed’s most cherished vision. Sheikh Ahmed’s leadership ensured that the launch will go down in history as the first major step towards establishing Dubai as the world’s most preferred aviation and logistics hub. The launch of DWC follows the spectacular opening of Dubai International’s Terminal 3 on October 14, 2008 – widely acknowledged in the industry as the most successful launch of a terminal of its size.
Under his leadership, Emirates has grown from being a regional airline with just two leased aircraft and three destinations, to an acclaimed international airline with a fleet of more than 150 aircraft and over 100 destinations across six continents. Emirates is today the world’s fastest growing intercontinental carrier.
With the launch of flydubai, its own budget carrier, Dubai added another first to its long list in June 2009. With Sheikh Ahmed to guide the fledgling carrier as its Chairman another success story is already in the making.
The fact that Dubai is now firmly established as the region’s most desirable leisure destination is due in no small measure to the efforts of Sheikh Ahmed, who also holds several other portfolios with the Government of Dubai.
In December 2010, Sheikh Ahmed was appointed the Chairman of the Board of Dubai World. He is Second Vice Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council, which is responsible for formulating policies and strategies for the Emirate of Dubai, as well as Chairman of Economic Development Committee; and Board Member of the Investment Corporation of Dubai.
He is the Chairman of the Dubai Supreme Fiscal Committee, as well as a member of the Board of the Dubai Council for Economic Affairs; Sheikh Ahmed is also the Vice-Chairman of the Dubai World Trade Centre, Chairman Supreme Committee – Dubai Shopping Festival Committee and Dubai Summer Surprises, and Board Member – General Civil Aviation Authority of UAE.
In September 2009, Sheikh Ahmed was appointed as the Chairman of the Department of Oil Affairs and Chairman of the Supreme Council for Energy.
Sheikh Ahmed is the Chairman of Dubai Airport Free Zone Authority, Dubai Air Wing, Alliance Insurance Company, The British University in Dubai and The Dubai Power & Energy Committee.
He is the Chairman of Wasl Hospitality and Chairman of Noor Investment Group.
Sheikh Ahmed is Patron to many charitable organisations, including the Rashid Paediatric Therapy Centre, the Rotary Club of Dubai and the Terry Fox Run and the Emirates Airline Foundation.
Holder of a Bachelors Degree from the University of Denver, Colorado, USA, Sheikh Ahmed is well known internationally for his contribution to the development of aviation in the region. The Royal Aeronautical Society, one of the industry’s oldest and most respected professional associations, honoured his achievements in aviation with a fellowship of the Society at the 1994 Farnborough Air Show in the UK.
Sheikh Ahmed is also a recipient of Commandeur de l'Ordre de la Legion d'Honneur (the Legion of Honour) – the highest French civilian award, conferred on him during the Dubai Air Show in December 2003.
In 2008, Sheikh Ahmed was awarded the Verfassungsportugaleser, one of Germany’s highest honours, for outstanding services to the City of Hamburg, at a senate reception.