Dubai’s airport celebrated 2015 by overtaking London’s Heathrow as the busiest in the world for international traffic.
It was a journey that began in 1938, when the emirate was used as a stopping point for flying boats operating from England to what is now Pakistan in British India.
For many years the main landing strip for commercial traffic was at the British air force base in Sharjah, but in 1959, Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed ordered work to begin on a new airport.
It opened in 1960, with a sand landing strip, but a proper runway was ready by 1963, along with the radar and infrastructure for long-haul jets.
This view of the control tower was taken in 1971, when an approach and runway lighting system came into operation.
By then the airline was serving nearly a dozen airlines and offered 20 destinations.
Forty-four years later, Dubai has a capacity of 70 million passengers, flying to 270 cities across the world.
* James Langton
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The Bio
Favourite holiday destination: Either Kazakhstan or Montenegro. I’ve been involved in events in both countries and they are just stunning.
Favourite book: I am a huge of Robin Cook’s medical thrillers, which I suppose is quite apt right now. My mother introduced me to them back home in New Zealand.
Favourite film or television programme: Forrest Gump is my favourite film, that’s never been up for debate. I love watching repeats of Mash as well.
Inspiration: My late father moulded me into the man I am today. I would also say disappointment and sadness are great motivators. There are times when events have brought me to my knees but it has also made me determined not to let them get the better of me.
