Sheikh Mohammed: Emirates has become one of the world’s leading airlines

Dubai: His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, stressed that Emirates has become one of the world’s leading airlines and a key pillar of the UAE’s development, as the carrier marks the 40th anniversary of its establishment.

In a post on the social platform X, Sheikh Mohammed commended the airline’s journey since its first flight on October 25, 1985.

“Forty years ago, on October 25, 1985, the first Emirates flight took off, carrying with it great ambitions that soared toward the sky,” Sheikh Mohammed wrote. “Today, Emirates has become one of the world’s leading airlines, directly connecting Dubai to 152 cities across the globe. It transports people, and with them, their dreams and aspirations, to Dubai and beyond. Over the course of its journey, the airline has carried more than 860 million passengers across continents.”

Sheikh Mohammed said Emirates today stands as “one of our national symbols of pride, a key driver of our development journey, and one of the most important airlines in the world.”

He extended his gratitude to Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, and to the airline’s more than 100,000 employees, praising their dedication and relentless efforts that have made Emirates an enduring emblem of Emirati excellence.

Founded with just two aircraft in 1985, Emirates has since grown into one of the world’s largest international carriers. On 25 October 1985, Emirates operated its flights from Dubai to Karachi and Mumbai, using a Boeing 737 and an Airbus 300 B4 wet leased from Pakistan International Airlines.

The Dubai-based airline now operates a global network, flies the world's largest fleets of Airbus A380s and Boeing 777s , and is known for its industry-leading service.

Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman of Dubai Airports and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, expressed thanks and gratitude Dubai Ruler for his support.

On his official X account, he said: “Thank you to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, and His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed for your steadfast support and invaluable trust. Your wise vision has always been and continues to be the foundation upon which Emirates' journey is built, the source of its strength, and the reason behind its continued excellence for four decades.”

“Thanks to your guidance, and with the support of Emirates’ teams around the world, we have continued to shape a success story that we, as Emiratis, proudly share with the world, a story that reflects the ambition of Dubai and the UAE in every flight and every milestone, keeping Dubai, as always, at the forefront,” Sheikh Ahmed tweeted.