Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed named Dubai-it Award recipient for aviation leadership
Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum announced on October 28 that Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum will receive the Dubai-it Award for his role in building the emirate's aviation sector into a major global hub.
Omar Al Nuaimi
Recognition for sector-wide leadership
The award recognizes Sheikh Ahmed's work linking airlines, airports and other aviation projects into a system whose economic impact is estimated at more than AED 400 billion, according to the Dubai Government Media Office announcement. It credits that development with supporting Dubai's economy, trade, tourism and business activity.
Sheikh Ahmed serves as President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman of Dubai Airports, and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group. Sheikh Hamdan said his leadership had helped make Dubai one of the world's leading aviation hubs, citing a nearly 139-fold expansion in Emirates' fleet, a 76-fold increase in its destination network and rapid growth at flydubai.
Sheikh Hamdan also pointed to the sector's beginnings with a sandy runway and two leased aircraft, saying its transformation reflected the Dubai-it philosophy and the work of Sheikh Ahmed and his team.
Mohammad Abdullah Al Gergawi, Chairman of The Executive Office of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, said Sheikh Ahmed's contribution went beyond running individual organizations. By coordinating the development of companies and projects, he had enabled successive achievements to build on one another, Al Gergawi said. The award recognizes that approach to sustaining growth and strengthening Dubai's global competitiveness.
Growth at Emirates and flydubai
Recent airline results illustrate the scale of the businesses Sheikh Ahmed leads. For the financial year ending March 31, 2026, the Emirates Group reported record pre-tax profit of AED 24.4 billion ($6.6 billion), a 7% increase, and record revenue of AED 150.5 billion ($41.0 billion).
According to the group, Emirates remained the world's most profitable airline. At the end of that financial year, the airline operated 277 aircraft and served 152 cities across 80 countries.
flydubai, also chaired by Sheikh Ahmed, carried a record 15.7 million passengers in 2025. Its fifth straight profitable year produced pre-tax earnings of AED 2.2 billion ($591 million) on revenue of AED 13.6 billion ($3.7 billion). The airline expanded to 97 Boeing 737 aircraft, with a network covering 140 destinations in 58 countries.
Dubai International's record traffic
Dubai International Airport handled 95.2 million passengers in 2025, an increase of 3.1% from the previous year, Dubai Airports reported. That was both the airport's busiest year and the highest annual international passenger total recorded by any airport.
The Airports Council International annual report, published in April 2026, confirmed that Dubai International ranked first worldwide for international passenger traffic for the 12th consecutive year. Its 2025 passenger total was 10.3% above the 2019 level.
The airport also set monthly and quarterly records in 2025. December traffic reached 8.7 million passengers, up 6.1% year over year, while fourth-quarter traffic rose 5.9% to 25.1 million. Flight movements for the full year totaled 454,800, a 3.3% increase.
By the end of 2025, 108 international airlines linked Dubai International to 291 destinations in 110 countries. Dubai Airports forecast passenger traffic approaching 99.5 million in 2026.
Dubai's tourism figures also reached a record in 2025. The Department of Economy and Tourism reported 19.59 million international overnight visitors, 5% more than in 2024.
An annual award for turning ideas into results
The Dubai-it Award grew out of the Dubai-it initiative launched by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. The initiative seeks to make achievement, hard work and the rapid delivery of ambitious goals an enduring part of how institutions and companies operate, with an emphasis on speed, excellence and impact.
Sheikh Hamdan launched the annual award in June 2026, according to Gulf News. It honors individuals, projects, institutions and companies whose work turns ideas into tangible results, with exceptional execution, high standards and a clear impact.
The award has three segments: Individuals, Projects, and Institutions & Companies. Its categories cover fields including government work, real estate, economy, education, technology and community.
