Hamdan bin Mohammed: Emirates Airline, a Unifying Bridge Between Peoples

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai's Crown Prince and Chairman of the Executive Council, marked Emirates Airlines' 39th anniversary by highlighting how the carrier has grown from a modest two-plane operation into the world's largest international airline, connecting 152 cities and carrying over 53 million passengers annually.

In a social media post on X, Sheikh Hamdan traced Emirates' journey back to October 25, 1985, when the first flight took off from Dubai. "Since that day, our journey toward excellence has never stopped," he wrote.

The numbers tell a remarkable growth story. Emirates started with just two leased aircraft serving four destinations and carrying 300,000 passengers in its first year. Today, the airline operates a fleet of more than 230 aircraft, mostly wide-body jets, and has become synonymous with luxury air travel.

This expansion mirrors Dubai's broader transformation into a global aviation hub. Dubai International Airport consistently ranks among the world's busiest for international passenger traffic, while the newer Al Maktoum International Airport is being developed to eventually become the world's largest airport.

For the aviation industry, Emirates represents a successful model of how state-backed carriers can compete globally. The airline's growth strategy focused on connecting East and West through Dubai, capitalizing on the emirate's geographic position between Europe, Asia, and Africa. This hub-and-spoke model has been copied by other Gulf carriers like Qatar Airways and Etihad.

Sheikh Hamdan specifically thanked Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Emirates' Chairman and CEO, and his team for their role in making Dubai "the world's airport." The Crown Prince emphasized how Emirates has become "a bridge between peoples and a station for dreams and ambitions."

The airline's success has significant economic implications for Dubai. Aviation and related services contribute roughly 27% of Dubai's GDP, making it a cornerstone of the emirate's economy. Emirates' growth has also supported Dubai's tourism sector and established the city as a major business hub connecting global markets.