Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum
{{Short description|Emirati businessman and politician (born 1958)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum
| image = Meeting between Governor João Doria and Emirates Airline Group CEO Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum.jpg
| caption = Sheikh Ahmed in 2021
| native_name = {{Lang|ar|أحمد بن سعيد آل مكتوم}}
| native_name_lang = ar
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1958|12|01|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Dubai, Trucial States
| nationality =
| education = University of Denver
| occupation = 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
| module = {{Infobox royalty
|embed = yes
|house = Al Maktoum
| father = Saeed bin Maktoum bin Hasher Al Maktoum
| issue = 2
}}
}}
Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum ({{langx|ar|أحمد بن سعيد آل مكتوم}}; born 1 December 1958) is an Emirati businessman, politician and member of Dubai's ruling Al Maktoum family, who is the current chairman and CEO of Emirates Airline and the Emirates Group,{{Cite web |title=Management |url=https://www.eau.ac.ae/en/about/management-2020 |access-date=2025-01-26 |website=Emirates Aviation University |language=en}} second vice chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai{{Cite web |title=HH Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum :: Dubai World |url=http://www.dubaiworld.ae/hh-sheikh-ahmed/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190505074331/http://www.dubaiworld.ae/hh-sheikh-ahmed/ |archive-date=5 May 2019 |access-date=2017-06-22 |website=www.dubaiworld.ae}} and president of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA).{{Cite web |title=Board of Directors {{!}} General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) of UAE |url=https://www.gcaa.gov.ae/en/Pages/aboutgcaa/BoardOfDirectors.aspx |access-date=2025-01-26 |website=www.gcaa.gov.ae}}
He is also the chairman of Dubai Airports,{{Cite web |title=Dubai Airports / Corporate home page |url=https://dubaiairports.ae/corporate/our-story/management-team/detail/hh-sheikh-ahmed |access-date=2025-01-26 |website=dubaiairports.ae |language=en}} Dubai Holding,{{Cite web |title=HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum {{!}} Chairman {{!}} Dubai Holding |url=https://www.dubaiholding.com/en/who-we-are/leadership/hh-sheikh-ahmed-bin-saeed-al-maktoum |access-date=2025-01-26 |website=www.dubaiholding.com |language=en}} Dubai World and Emirates NBD.{{Cite web |title=Board Of Directors - Guiding Banking Excellence |url=https://www.emiratesnbd.com/en/about-emirates-nbd/board-of-directors |access-date=2025-01-26 |website=Emirates NBD |language=en}} Ahmed is the board member of the Investment Corporation of Dubai (ICD) and the current chancellor of The British University in Dubai.{{Cite web |title=Chancellor |url=https://www.buid.ac.ae/discover-buid/leadership/chancellors/ |access-date=2025-01-26 |website=BUiD |language=en-gb}}
Early life and education
Born on 1 December 1958, Ahmed is the youngest son of Dubai's former ruler, Sheikh Saeed bin Maktoum bin Hasher Al Maktoum, and the only child of his father's second wife, Sheikha Fatima bint Ahmed bin Suliman.
He is the half-brother of the former ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, and is the uncle of Dubai's current ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
Ahmed has a degree in political science from the University of Denver.{{cite web |title=HH Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum |url=http://www.dubaiworld.ae/hh-sheikh-ahmed/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190505074331/http://www.dubaiworld.ae/hh-sheikh-ahmed/ |archive-date=5 May 2019 |access-date=21 March 2016 |work=Dubai World |language=en}}
Career
Al Maktoum'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 Al Maktoum appointed chairman.{{cite web |title=His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum |url=http://www.theemiratesgroup.com/english/our-company/leadership/hh-sheikh-ahmed-bin-saeed-al-maktoum.aspx |work=The Emirates Group |access-date=10 April 2013}}{{cite web |title=H.H. Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum |url=http://www.entrepreneur.com/author/hh-sheikh-ahmed-bin-saeed-al-maktoum |work=Entrepreneur |access-date=21 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150521040056/http://www.entrepreneur.com/author/hh-sheikh-ahmed-bin-saeed-al-maktoum |archive-date=21 May 2015 |language=en}}{{cite news |title=Last Updated: Mon, Mar 21 2016 {{!}} 5:02 PM {{!}} 27 °C Dubai, United Arab Emirates . HH Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum |url=http://www.arabianbusiness.com/people/hh-sheikh-ahmed-bin-saeed-al-maktoum-394717.html |work=Arabian Business |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140708225038/http://www.arabianbusiness.com/people/hh-sheikh-ahmed-bin-saeed-al-maktoum-394717.html |archive-date=8 July 2014 |language=en}}{{cite web |title=HH Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum |url=http://www.dubaiairports.ae/corporate/media-centre/biographies/hh-sheikh-ahmed-bin-saeed-al-maktoum |work=Dubai Airports |access-date=21 March 2016 |language=en}}
File:Maktoum Lula.jpg, president of Brazil.]]
He is believed to be connected to at least 14 board members in 14 organizations in 14 industries.{{cite web |title=Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum: Executive Profile |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/person.asp?personId=52133775&privcapId=24963869 |work=Bloomberg |access-date=21 March 2016 |language=en |quote=This person is connected to 14 Board Members in 14 different organizations across 14 different industries.}} Al Maktoum has been called "the man who put Dubai on the global aviation map."{{cite web |last1=Kerr |first1=Simeon |title=Sheikh Ahmed: the man who put Dubai on the global aviation map |url=https://www.ft.com/content/106d50c0-3a74-11e4-bd08-00144feabdc0 |work=Financial Times |access-date=21 March 2016 |language=en |date=12 September 2014}}{{subscription required}} He has been chairman and CEO of Emirates Airline & Group since 1985.{{cite news |title=What to expect to see inside Emirates' Expo 2020 pavilion |url=https://www.arabianbusiness.com/travel-hospitality/433568-what-to-expect-to-see-at-emirates-expo-2020-pavilion |publisher=Arabian Business |date=22 November 2019 |access-date=15 April 2020}} 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).{{cite news |title=HH SHEIKH AHMED BIN SAEED AL MAKTOUM OPENS INAUGURAL PRIVATE LABEL & LICENSING MIDDLE EAST AND GULFOOD MANUFACTURING 2019 |url=https://www.gulfoodmanufacturing.com/news/hh-sheikh-ahmed-bin-saeed-al-maktoum-opens-inaugural-private-label--licensing-middle-east-and-gulfood-manufacturing-2019#/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191210182004/https://www.gulfoodmanufacturing.com/news/hh-sheikh-ahmed-bin-saeed-al-maktoum-opens-inaugural-private-label--licensing-middle-east-and-gulfood-manufacturing-2019#/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 December 2019 |publisher=Gulffood Manufacturing |date=29 October 2019 |access-date=15 April 2020 }}
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.{{cite news |title=Revealed: how Dubai aims to improve free zone appeal |url=https://www.arabianbusiness.com/politics-economics/431239-revealed-how-dubai-aims-to-improve-free-zone-appeal |publisher=Arabian Business |date=22 October 2019 |access-date=15 April 2020}} Al Maktoum is chair of the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature.{{cite news |date=11 December 2019 |title=Dubai wealth fund expands sponsorship of Emirates Lit Fest |publisher=Arabian Business |url=https://www.arabianbusiness.com/media/435302-dubai-wealth-fund-expands-sponsorship-of-emirates-lit-fest |access-date=16 April 2020}}{{cite news |title=Emirates Literature Foundation |publisher=Emirates Airline Festival of Literature |url=https://www.emirateslitfest.com/contact/about-dar-al-adaab/ |access-date=16 April 2020}}
Personal life
In 2007, he married Egyptian socialite Nivin El-Gamal in 2007 in an Islamic ceremony in a London flat. Al Maktoum denied that this had taken place; a London court accepted that it had, but that it was not a valid marriage under English law. She gave birth to their only child,{{cite web |last1=Herrmann |first1=Joshi |title=The sheikh who loved me then left me with his child |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/london-life/the-sheikh-who-loved-me-then-left-me-with-his-child-7594035.html |work=EveningStandard |access-date=21 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130622203448/http://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/london-life/the-sheikh-who-loved-me-then-left-me-with-his-child-7594035.html |archive-date=22 June 2013 |language=en |date=28 March 2012}}{{cite web |last1=Gammell |first1=Caroline |title='Secret wife' of Dubai sheikh seeks UK asylum |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/dubai/7067466/Secret-wife-of-Dubai-sheikh-seeks-UK-asylum.html |work=The Telegraph |access-date=21 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100128042506/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/dubai/7067466/Secret-wife-of-Dubai-sheikh-seeks-UK-asylum.html |archive-date=28 January 2010 |language=en |date=25 January 2010}} Saeed bin Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum.{{Cite web |url=https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/07983385 |title=SHEIKH SAEED BIN AHMED BIN SAEED AL-MAKTOUM - Overview (free company information from Companies House)|website=beta.companieshouse.gov.uk |language=en |access-date=2017-06-22}} Al Maktoum later married Sheikha Mona, a first cousin twice removed (a regional tradition), a daughter of Sheikh Obaid bin Thani Al Maktoum, in 2008.{{Cite news |url=https://www.arabianbusiness.com/sheikh-ahmed-marries-sheikh-obaid-s-daughter-48212.html |title=Sheikh Ahmed marries Sheikh Obaid's daughter |date=2008-06-15 |work=Arabian Business |access-date=2021-04-25 |language=en}}{{Cite news |url=http://wam.ae/en/details/1395228140014 |title=VP attends luncheon to celebrate wedding of Sheikh Ahmed |date=2008-06-14 |work=Emirates News Agency |access-date=2021-04-25 |language=en}}
He married Moza bint Hamdan Al Malik Al Shehi in 2019, and they had a son named Mohammed in November 2020.{{cite web | url=https://www.thepaddockmagazine.com/profiles-34-sheikh-ahmed/ | title=34. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed al Maktoum | date=12 September 2021 }}
Honors and awards
- 2007: Living Legend of Aviation — Aviation Entrepreneur of the Year.{{cite web |title=Living Legends of Aviation | Honorees |url=http://www.livinglegendsofaviation.com/honorees/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150213123135/http://www.livinglegendsofaviation.com/honorees/ |archive-date=13 February 2015 |access-date=14 January 2018 |df=mdy-all}}
- 2011: Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award for the UAE{{cite web |url=http://www.smeadvisor.com/news/ernst-young-names-uae-entrepreneur-of-the-year-2011 |title=Ernst & Young names UAE Entrepreneur Of The Year 2011 |access-date=15 September 2015}}{{Dead link|date=September 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{Cite news |url=https://www.dubaichronicle.com/2012/04/10/uae-entrepreneur-of-the-year/ |title=UAE Entrepreneur Of The Year 2011 |date=2012-04-10 |work=dubaichronicle.com |access-date=2021-08-18 |language=en}}
- 2012: Emirates Airline Festival of Literature Personality of the Year Award.{{cite web |url=http://www.eaifl.com/Sheikh_Ahmed_personality_of_year |title=HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum accepts Emirates Airline Festival of Literature Personality of the Year 2012 Award |work=Emirates Airline Festival of Literature |access-date=3 September 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130121191319/http://www.eaifl.com/Sheikh_Ahmed_personality_of_year |archive-date=21 January 2013}}
- 2013: Honorary degree from City University London.{{cite web |title=His Highness Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum |url=https://www.city.ac.uk/people/honorary-graduates/his-highness-sheikh-ahmed-bin-saeed-al-maktoum |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140804144756/http://www.city.ac.uk/people/honorary-graduates/his-highness-sheikh-ahmed-bin-saeed-al-maktoum |archive-date=4 August 2014 |access-date=21 March 2016 |work=City University London |language=en}}
- 2013: Honorary Knight Commander of The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.{{Cite news |url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/419319/2013_Honorary_Awards_-_Final.pdf |title="Honorary British Awards to Foreign Nationals – 2013" |date= |work=gov.uk |access-date=2021-04-26 |language=en}}
- Listed in the Top 100 most powerful Arabs' from 2013 to 2021 by Gulf Business.{{Cite news |date= |title=Top 100 Powerful Arabs 2013 |url=https://gulfbusiness.com/lists/top-100-arab-power-list-2013/ |access-date=2021-08-16 |magazine=Gulf Business |language=en}}{{Cite news |date= |title=Top 100 Powerful Arabs 2017 |url=https://gulfbusiness.com/lists/100-powerful-arabs-2017/ |access-date=2021-08-16 |magazine=Gulf Business |language=en}}{{Cite news |date= |title=Top 100 most powerful Arabs 2021 |url=https://gulfbusiness.com/top-100-most-powerful-arabs-2021/ |access-date=2021-08-16 |work=Gulf Business |language=en}}
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References
{{Reflist}}
{{Emirates Airlines}}
{{portalbar|Biography|United Arab Emirates}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Maktoum, Ahmed Saeed Al}}
Category:Businesspeople awarded knighthoods
Category:Businesspeople from Dubai
Category:Commanders of the Legion of Honour
Category:Emirati airline chief executives
Category:Emirati corporate directors
Category:Honorary Knights Commander of the Order of the British Empire