HH Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum

For nearly four decades, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum has been at the helm of one of the most remarkable success stories in global aviation. At the helm of the Emirates Airline and Group since its inception in 1985, Sheikh Ahmed has shaped Emirates into the world’s most profitable airline and a flagship of Dubai Inc’s rise as a global hub for trade, tourism, and finance.

In FY 2024–25, under his leadership, the Emirates Group recorded its best-ever financial results — a pre-tax profit of Dhs22.7bn, revenue of Dhs145.4bn, and record cash reserves of Dhs53.4b. Emirates alone carried nearly 54 million passengers, launched a $5bn retrofit programme, and prepared for delivery of new Airbus A350s and Boeing 777 freighters. The group declared a dividend of Dhs6bn to its owner, the Investment Corporation of Dubai (ICD) — a testament to the strategic value it continues to generate.

Sheikh Ahmed’s aviation career began as president of the Dubai Department of Civil Aviation, the same year Emirates was launched with just two leased aircraft. Today, Emirates operates over 260 aircraft, serves over 100 destinations. The transformation of Dubai International Airport into the world’s fourth busiest, the creation of Dubai World Central (DWC), and the rise of flydubai — all bear his imprint.

His influence extends well beyond aviation. Sheikh Ahmed chairs Dubai Airports, Dubai Holding, Emirates NBD, flydubai, and the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority. He also plays a pivotal role in shaping Dubai’s fiscal and investment strategies and serves as a global ambassador for Dubai’s economic ambitions.

A graduate of the University of Denver, Sheikh Ahmed has been recognised by institutions such as the Royal Aeronautical Society and serves as a patron of several charitable causes. Despite overseeing a vast portfolio of entities, his leadership is anchored in
clear principles: long-term value creation, customer-centricity, talent investment, and unwavering resilience through global headwinds.

As the Emirates Group gears up for a future shaped by new technologies, infrastructure, and expansion, Sheikh Ahmed remains one of the Gulf’s most iconic and enduring chief executives — a symbol of Dubai’s bold vision and its global aviation leadership.