The leadership of Emirates airline is helmed by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, who has served as the Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and the Emirates Group since the carrier's inception in 1985. As a senior member of Dubai's ruling Al Maktoum family and a prominent Emirati statesman and businessman, he has successfully steered the airline from its humble beginnings with just two leased aircraft into a massive global aviation titan connecting six continents. His comprehensive executive oversight extends across Dubai Airports, flydubai, Emirates NBD bank, and numerous other vital economic institutions driving Dubai's growth.