Sheikh Hamdan announces Dubai-it Award for Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed for aviation achievements

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has unveiled the Dubai-it Award, to be bestowed upon Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum. The accolade is a tribute to the decades-long leadership of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority President and Emirates Airline Chairman and CEO, in propelling Dubai into a global aviation force.

In an X post, Sheikh Hamdan announced: "The Dubai-it Award will be given to Ahmed bin Saeed in recognition of his leadership in driving the exceptional development of one of the world’s largest and most integrated aviation ecosystems, which has achieved sustained growth across all its sectors." Sheikh Ahmed's stewardship has been pivotal in cultivating an integrated aviation sector that links Dubai with global markets, fuels international trade and tourism, and generates substantial economic value.

Under his guidance, Emirates has seen its fleet and destination networks soar, nearly 139-fold and 76-fold respectively, while flydubai has flourished globally. Dubai International Airport, under his leadership, now links the emirate to an impressive 291 destinations via 108 airlines, and recorded a record 95.2 million passengers in a year, setting a global record for international passenger traffic.

The Dubai-it Award celebrates Sheikh Ahmed's embodiment of the Dubai-it spirit, through ambitious vision, world-class execution, and exceptional growth at scale, which have transformed Dubai into a global aviation powerhouse.