Seattle marks 'Emirates Day'

Seattle It was "Emirates Day" in the land of Boeing and Starbucks on Thursday. Christine Gregoire, governor of Washington state, named the day after the airline to commemorate the carrier's inaugural flight to Seattle.

The Port of Seattle — an elected body which runs the city's airport and docks — greeted the arrival of the inaugural flight in a simple ceremony in the terminal.

Gregoire could not make it to the event but a message was read on her behalf by one of the officials.

Shaikh Ahmad Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation and Chairman and chief executive of Emirates airline and Group, set the tone for the event. He said: "I am delighted to return to one of my favourite cities." Sharing the dais with him was Tay Yoshitani and John Creighton, CEO and Commissioner, respectively, of the Port of Seattle body.

Shaikh Ahmad felt that the addition of this city would open up a network of nearly 130 destinations around the world. The governor's message also struck an optimistic note about how the route would boost trade, tourism and investment with the UAE.

Later in the evening, the US-UAE Business Council hosted a reception for Shaikha Lubna Al Qasimi, Minister of Foreign Trade, to underline the importance and growth in trade between the two countries.

Hamad Bu Amim, Director General of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, also addressed the gathering.