Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum

Al Maktoum with Lula da Silva, president of Brazil at that time in 2007.

The youngest 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 ruler Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

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.[1][5][6][7]

He is believed to be connected to at least 14 board members in 14 organizations in 14 industries.[8] Ahmed has been called "the man who put Dubai on the global aviation map."[9]

Since its foundation Al Maktoum has been serving as Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE. [10]

He has also been serving as 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 serves as Chairman of the Dubai Free Zone Council. At its 13th meeting in 2019, which was chaired by Al Maktoum, the members discussed initiatives and proposals for long-term rental agreements or investors and free zone passports. [13]

Al Maktoum is the chairman of the largest celebration festival of the spoken and written word in the Middle East, the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature. [14] [15]

He is a graduate of the University of Denver. He married Egyptian socialite Nivin El-Gamal in 2007.[16] She gave birth to their only child,[17][18] Sheikh Saeed bin Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum[19] in Los Angeles in 2008.[20] It was later reported that El-Gamal feared deportation from the United Kingdom where she resided.[20] Court hearings took place, but Ahmed did not attend.[21] Al Maktoum later married a first cousin twice removed (a regional tradition) in 2008.[9] In 2011, his net worth was reported to be £19 billion ($31 billion),[lower-alpha 1] placing him first ahead of the King of Thailand on the list of royalty by net worth for that year.

Princely Family of Dubai
HH The Emir HH Sheikha Hind HH The Hereditary Emir HSH Sheikha Sheikha HH Sheikha Manal HH Sheikha Maitha HH Sheikha Hessa HH Sheikha Marwan HH Sheikha Shamsa HH Sheikha Dalal HH Sheikha Latifa I HH Sheikh Maktoum HSH Sheikha Maryam HH Sheikha Latifa II HH Sheikh Ahmed HSH Sheikha Madiyah HH Sheikha Maryam I HH Sheikh Majid HH Sheikh Saeed HH Sheikha Latifa III HH Sheikh Mansour HH Sheikha Maryam II HH Sheikha Shaikha HH Sheikha Mahra HH Sheikh Futaim HH Sheikha Salamah HH Sheikha Shamma HH Sheikha Al Jalilah HH Sheikh Zayed Extended family Descendants of Emir Rashid II bin Saeed: HH Sheikha Alia, widow of Emir Maktoum II bin Rashid HH Sheikh Saeed HH Sheikha Lateefa HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid HSH Sheikha Rodha bint Ahmad HSH Sheikh Rashid bin Hamdan HSH Sheikha Latifa bint Hamdan HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid HH Sheikha Maryam bint Rashid HH Sheikha Fatima bint Rashid HH Sheikha Hassa bint Rashid HH Sheikha Maitha bint Rashid HH Sheikha Shaikha bint Rashid Extended family Descendants of Emir Saeed II bin Maktoum: HSH Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed HSH Sheikha Shamsah bint Obaid HSH Sheikh Saeed bin Ahmed

• Honorary degree from City University London[25]
• Living Legend of Aviation—2007 Aviation Entrepreneur of the Year[26]
• Ernst & Young 2011 Entrepreneur of the Year Award for the UAE[27]
• Emirates Airline Festival of Literature Personality of the Year 2012 Award[28]
• Honorary Knight Commander of The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (2013)[29]