Through Open Skies : Eight Decades of Civil Aviation in Dubai

On 22 July 1937, the signing of the Dubai Commercial Air Agreement marked a beginning for civil aviation in the Sheikhdom. A few months later, on 5 October, as Imperial Airways’ flying boat Calypso landed on the creek, Dubai’s eight-decade journey to the heart of global aviation had begun in earnest. In 1960, Dubai’s Ruler, the late Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum laid the foundations for today when he inaugurated Dubai Airport. Sheikh Rashid would also defy popular aero-political convention when he declared an Open Skies policy. This liberal, free-market approach would underpin Dubai’s extraordinary growth over the coming six decades.

In 1966, under the visionary leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, began an era that would see the emergence of Dubai Airports, Dubai Duty Free, Emirates, FlyDubai, Dnata, Dubai Aviation Engineering and Dubai Air Navigation Services. These would provide the pillars upon which the now rebranded Dubai Civil Aviation Authority would help build the world’s most vibrant aviation hub.