Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum wins Dubai-it Award for developing Dubai's aviation sector

Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum has won the Dubai-it Award for his role in developing Dubai's aviation sector, with the emirate's leadership citing the growth of Emirates, flydubai and Dubai International Airport. Sheikh Hamdan credited Sheikh Ahmed's leadership with helping establish Dubai as one of the world's leading aviation hubs. According to Sheikh Hamdan, Emirates' fleet has expanded nearly 139-fold and its destination network 76-fold during the period cited. Dubai International Airport also handled a record 95.2 million passengers in a single year, setting a global record for international traffic.

Sheikh Ahmed thanked Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice-President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Hamdan for the recognition and their support for the aviation sector. He said the award recognised decades of work by teams at Emirates, flydubai and Dubai Airports, alongside partners across the aviation industry, and added that Dubai's achievements to date marked the beginning of further ambitions for the sector. Sheikh Ahmed has played a central role in Dubai's aviation development, including through his leadership of Emirates Group.

The annual Dubai-it Award recognises individuals, projects, companies and institutions that demonstrate the emirate's approach to turning ambition into results. Launched by Sheikh Mohammed on 17 June, it emphasises execution, speed and quality. Winners are assessed against eight criteria, including the significance of their achievement, execution quality, efficiency, tangible results, impact, sustainability and potential for development, and the award also considers whether an achievement provides a model that can inspire others. The award cycle runs from September to May.