TOP STRAP
14
Onwards and upwards In an exclusive interview with Ian Fairservice for Business Traveller, His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and CEO and Founder of the Emirates Group, provides insight into the current and future state of travel and Emirates’ pivotal role in getting the industry back on track
S
LEFT: HH Sheikh Ahmed ABOVE: Sheikh Ahmed: “It’s essential for Dubai to remain open for international flows of goods and people” J U LY-A U G U S T 2 0 2 1
heikh Ahmed on the economic outlook for Dubai and the travel sector in 2021
Dubai’s economy has weathered the pandemic impact well. We are in a strong position and recently reported double-digit economic growth in Q1 2021 compared to a year ago. This achievement was made possible by the government’s stimulus packages and proactive policies, which helped contain the pandemic and mitigate its repercussions on different sectors. It also shows the resilience of the Dubai economy, which has been built on years of investments in infrastructure across diverse sectors, supported by good governance. As a global business hub for trade, travel and tourism, it’s essential for Dubai to remain open for international flows of goods and people. That is something that we managed to achieve much earlier than most other countries, again thanks to good policies, clear leadership and public-private
