Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum: The Foundert of Dubai’s Aviation Renaissance

Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Long before Dubai became a global aviation icon, there was the profound vision of an extraordinary statesman, the late Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum. At a time when the region relied on its traditional resources, Sheikh Rashid saw in the skies a new artery for life and prosperity. With his bold decisions, he laid the foundation for what Dubai is today:
a global aviation capital connecting East and West.
The beginning was not easy. In the late 1950s, the idea of building an international airport in Dubai seemed an ambition that exceeded the available resources. However, with unwavering determination, Sheikh Rashid ordered the construction of Dubai International Airport in 1959, which officially opened on 30 September 1960. This was not merely an infrastructure project; it was a clear declaration of Dubai’s intention to open up to and welcome the world.
With the rapid growth of air traffic, Sheikh Rashid, with his customary wisdom, recognised the need for a unified regulatory body to manage this vital sector. On 18 March 1971, His Highness issued a historic decree establishing the “Dubai Department of Civil Aviation”. This decision was a crucial turning point, as it consolidated all airport operations, from granting traffic rights to operating permissions, under a single authority, providing the cohesive direction that has distinguished Dubai’s aviation journey ever since.
The establishment of the Department of Civil Aviation was not just an administrative step; it was the embodiment of Sheikh Rashid’s vision to build a diversified and sustainable economy. He understood that an airport is not merely a gateway for travellers, but a beating heart for trade, logistics, and tourism. Today, more than five decades later, the imprints of that vision remain evident in every aircraft that takes off and lands, and in every success achieved by Dubai’s aviation sector, which has become a global success story studied in the most prominent international forum