Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum
أحمد بن سعيد آل مكتوم
Born (1958-12-01) 1 December 1958 (age 65)
Dubai, Trucial States
EducationUniversity of Denver
Occupation(s)Chairman and CEO Emirates Airline, Dubai Aviation City Corporation, Dubai World, flydubai, Noor Islamic Bank, Emirates NBD Bank PJSC, Chancellor of The British University in Dubai
TitleHH Sheikh
Issue2
HouseAl Maktoum
FatherSaeed bin Maktoum bin Hasher Al Maktoum

Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum (Arabic: أحمد بن سعيد آل مكتوم; born 1 December 1958) is an Emirati businessman and member of Dubai's ruling Al Maktoum family. He is the president of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, CEO and founder of the Emirates Group, and chairman of Dubai World.[1]

He is also the current chancellor of The British University in Dubai, chairman of the Dubai Supreme Fiscal Committee, chairman of the Dubai Airports Company,[2] second vice chairman of the Dubai Executive Council,[3] and chairman of Emirates NBD Bank PJSC.[4]

Early years

The youngest (posthumous) son of Dubai's former ruler Saeed bin Maktoum bin Hasher Al Maktoum and the only child of his second wife Sheikha Fatima bint Ahmed bin Suliman, Sheikh Ahmed is the half-brother of Dubai's former ruler Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum and the uncle of Dubai's current ruler Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

Career

Ahmed's career in the aviation industry began in 1985 when he was appointed president of the Dubai Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) (the governing body which oversaw the activities of Dubai International and Dubai Duty Free). Emirates, the national carrier, was launched at the same time, with Ahmed appointed chairman.[5][6][7][8]

Two smiling men in business suits, shaking hands
Al Maktoum with Lula da Silva, president of Brazil.

He is believed to be connected to at least 14 board members in 14 organizations in 14 industries.[9] Ahmed has been called "the man who put Dubai on the global aviation map."[10] He has been chairman and CEO of Emirates Airline & Group since 1985.[11] In October 2019 Al Maktoum, as president of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA), opened a quartet of sector-specific global food trade platforms at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC).[12]

Al Maktoum was chairman of the Dubai Free Zone Council. At its 13th meeting in 2019, chaired by Al Maktoum, the members discussed initiatives and proposals for long-term rental agreements or investors and free zone passports.[13]

He was listed in the 'Top 100 most powerful Arabs' from 2013 to 2021 by Gulf Business.[14][15][16]

Al Maktoum is chair of the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature.[17][18]

Personal life

He is a graduate of the University of Denver.[5][19] He married Egyptian socialite Nivin El-Gamal in 2007 (only Islamic ceremony in a London flat and denied by Ahmed, invalid according to the London court). She gave birth to their only child,[20][21] Saeed bin Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum.[22] Al Maktoum later married Sheikha Mona, a first cousin twice removed (a regional tradition), daughter of Sheikh Obaid bin Thani Al Maktoum, in 2008.[10][23][24] He married Moza bint Hamdan Al Malik Al Shehi in 2019, and they had a son named Mohammed in November 2020.[25]

Honors and awards

References

  1. ^ Sharif, Arif; Hall, Camilla (13 December 2010). "Dubai Names Emirates Head as Chairman of Dubai World". Bloomberg. Retrieved 23 May 2016.
  2. ^ "HH Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Airports". The Dubai Airports. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  3. ^ "HH Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum :: Dubai World". www.dubaiworld.ae. Archived from the original on 5 May 2019. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
  4. ^ "Board of Directors". Emirates NBD. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  5. ^ a b "His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum". The Emirates Group. Retrieved 10 April 2013.
  6. ^ "H.H. Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum". Entrepreneur. Archived from the original on 21 May 2015. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
  7. ^ "Last Updated: Mon, Mar 21 2016 | 5:02 PM | 27 °C Dubai, United Arab Emirates . HH Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum". Arabian Business. Archived from the original on 8 July 2014.
  8. ^ "HH Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum". Dubai Airports. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
  9. ^ "Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum: Executive Profile". Bloomberg. Retrieved 21 March 2016. This person is connected to 14 Board Members in 14 different organizations across 14 different industries.
  10. ^ a b Kerr, Simeon (12 September 2014). "Sheikh Ahmed: the man who put Dubai on the global aviation map". Financial Times. Retrieved 21 March 2016.(subscription required)
  11. ^ "What to expect to see inside Emirates' Expo 2020 pavilion". Arabian Business. 22 November 2019. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  12. ^ "HH SHEIKH AHMED BIN SAEED AL MAKTOUM OPENS INAUGURAL PRIVATE LABEL & LICENSING MIDDLE EAST AND GULFOOD MANUFACTURING 2019". Gulffood Manufacturing. 29 October 2019. Retrieved 15 April 2020.[permanent dead link]
  13. ^ "Revealed: how Dubai aims to improve free zone appeal". Arabian Business. 22 October 2019. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  14. ^ "Top 100 Powerful Arabs 2013". Gulf Business. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  15. ^ "Top 100 Powerful Arabs 2017". Gulf Business. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  16. ^ "Top 100 most powerful Arabs 2021". Gulf Business. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  17. ^ "Dubai wealth fund expands sponsorship of Emirates Lit Fest". Arabian Business. 11 December 2019. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  18. ^ "Emirates Literature Foundation". Emirates Airline Festival of Literature. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  19. ^ "HH Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum". Dubai World. Archived from the original on 5 May 2019. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
  20. ^ Herrmann, Joshi (28 March 2012). "The sheikh who loved me then left me with his child". EveningStandard. Archived from the original on 22 June 2013. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
  21. ^ Gammell, Caroline (25 January 2010). "'Secret wife' of Dubai sheikh seeks UK asylum". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 28 January 2010. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
  22. ^ "SHEIKH SAEED BIN AHMED BIN SAEED AL-MAKTOUM - Overview (free company information from Companies House)". beta.companieshouse.gov.uk. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
  23. ^ "Sheikh Ahmed marries Sheikh Obaid's daughter". Arabian Business. 15 June 2008. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  24. ^ "VP attends luncheon to celebrate wedding of Sheikh Ahmed". Emirates News Agency. 14 June 2008. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  25. ^ https://www.thepaddockmagazine.com/profiles-34-sheikh-ahmed/
  26. ^ "His Highness Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum". City University London. Archived from the original on 4 August 2014. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
  27. ^ "Living Legends of Aviation | Honorees". Archived from the original on February 13, 2015. Retrieved January 14, 2018.
  28. ^ "Ernst & Young names UAE Entrepreneur Of The Year 2011". Retrieved 15 September 2015.[permanent dead link]
  29. ^ "UAE Entrepreneur Of The Year 2011". dubaichronicle.com. 10 April 2012. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  30. ^ "HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum accepts Emirates Airline Festival of Literature Personality of the Year 2012 Award". Emirates Airline Festival of Literature. Archived from the original on 21 January 2013. Retrieved 3 September 2012.
  31. ^ ""Honorary British Awards to Foreign Nationals – 2013"" (PDF). gov.uk. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
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