On the occasion of the 40th anniversary of Emirates Airline’s first flight, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, affirmed that Emirates is one of the nation’s greatest achievements and a key driver of the UAE’s developmental journey.
In a statement shared on his official account on Platform X (formerly Twitter), His Highness said:
“Forty years ago, on October 25, 1985, the first Emirates flight took off… and with it, great ambitions took flight toward the skies.”
His Highness added:
“Today, Emirates is one of the world’s leading airlines. It connects us directly to 152 cities around the globe, transporting people — and with them, their dreams and ambitions — to Dubai and beyond. Over the course of its journey, it has carried more than 860 million passengers across continents.”
His Highness emphasized that Emirates is not only a global aviation leader but also a powerful symbol of national pride and a vital contributor to the country’s ongoing development.
He also expressed his deep appreciation for His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum and the more than 100,000 members of the Emirates team, who work tirelessly to uphold the airline’s world-class reputation.
“Today, it stands as a national pride… a major engine of our developmental progress… and one of the top airlines globally. Thank you to Ahmed bin Saeed and his team of over 100,000 employees who work day and night to keep Emirates an exceptional Emirati success story.”
