Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum (born 1958) is the President of the Department of Civil Aviation

Department of Civil Aviation (Dubai)

The Department of Civil Aviation is the governing body which oversees aviation activities in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The DCA was once the operator of Dubai International Airport, Dubai Cargo Village and Dubai Duty Free Zone. Management of Dubai's airports and cargo gateways have been...

, CEO and Chairman of The Emirates Group

The Emirates Group

The Emirates Group is a public international travel and tourism conglomerate holding company headquartered in Garhoud, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, by Dubai International Airport. The Emirates Group comprises Dnata, an aviation services company providing ground handling services at 17 airports and...

 and Chairman of Dubai World

Dubai World

Dubai World is an investment company that manages and supervises a portfolio of businesses and projects for the Dubai government across a wide range of industry segments and projects that promote Dubai as a hub for commerce and trading. It is the emirate's flag bearer in global investments and has...

.

Background

He is the son of former Emir

Emir

Emir , meaning "commander", "general", or "prince"; also transliterated as Amir, Aamir or Ameer) is a title of high office, used throughout the Muslim world...

 (Ruler) of Dubai

Dubai

Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...

 Sheikh Saeed bin Maktoum Al Maktoum, the brother of former Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum

Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum

HH The Emir Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum was the Vice-President and Prime Minister of United Arab Emirates and Emir of Dubai...

 and the uncle of the current Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum

Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum

Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum , also Sheikh Mohammed, , is the Prime Minister and Vice President of the United Arab Emirates , and absolute monarch of Dubai.-Personal life and education:...

 (despite being nine years younger than him). He is a graduate of the University of Denver

University of Denver

The University of Denver is currently ranked 82nd among all public and private "National Universities" by U.S. News & World Report in the 2012 rankings....

.

He embarked on his journey in the aviation industry in 1985 when he was appointed President of DCA. Emirates, the national carrier, was launched at the same time and he was appointed Chairman.

Sheikh Ahmed also holds several other portfolios with the Government of Dubai. He is Deputy Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council, which formulates policies and strategies for the Emirate of Dubai.

Sheikh Ahmed is Member of the Board of the Dubai Council for Economic Affairs; Vice-Chairman of the Dubai World Trade Centre; Board Member the Dubai Corporation for Government Investment, Chairman Supreme Committee – Dubai Shopping Festival
Committee and Dubai Summer Surprises, and Board Member – General Civil Aviation Authority of UAE.
He is the Chairman of:

• Noor Islamic Bank
  Noor Islamic Bank
  Noor Islamic Bank was established in 2006 in Dubai, and is a Shari’a compliant commercial bank, owned by Emirates Investment Authority and Noor Investment Group LLC. It has a paid-up capital of USD 1 billion...
  
   PJSC,
• Noor Investment Group LLC,
• Noor Takaful
  Noor Takaful
  Noor Takaful was officially launched and opened to the public on 7 January 2009 in Dubai as a Shari’a compliant insurance company to support the growing needs of the UAE and the GCC economies. The company offers a range of personal and commercial insurance products with an emphasis on...
  
   General PJSC,
• Noor Takaful
  Noor Takaful
  Noor Takaful was officially launched and opened to the public on 7 January 2009 in Dubai as a Shari’a compliant insurance company to support the growing needs of the UAE and the GCC economies. The company offers a range of personal and commercial insurance products with an emphasis on...
  
   Family PJSC,
• Dubai National Air Travel Agency (DNATA), which is part of the Emirates Group and the sole ground handling agency at Dubai International Airport
• Dubai Airport Free Zone Authority
• Dubai Aerospace Enterprise
• Dubai Air Wing
• Alliance Insurance Company
• Le Meridien Dubai
• Dubai International Marine Club
• Dubai Golf Club
• The British University in Dubai
• The Dubai Power & Energy Committee
• Victory Team
  Victory Team
  Victory Team is a government-owned offshore powerboat racing team from the United Arab Emirates. It is one of Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum's several business interests and is considered to be one of the most successful teams in the sport. Unlike the majority of teams, Victory currently field three...
  
  , one of the most successful offshore powerboat racing
  Offshore powerboat racing
  Offshore powerboat racing is racing by large, specially designed ocean-going powerboats, typically point-to-point racing.Probably one of the largest, most dangerous, and most powerful racing machines of all, the extreme expense of the boats and the fuel required to participate make it an expensive...
  
   teams and a boat builder
• and, the UAE National Olympic Committee

Sheikh Ahmed is Patron to many charitable organizations, including the Rashid Pediatric Therapy Centre, Gulf For Good, the Rotary Club of Dubai and the Terry Fox Run.

He is also International Life Vice President of Chelsea Football Club and loves to eat toffees.