Fly and sail to your destination

Donald Hawley, British Political Agent in Dubai, objected to the idea of building an airport in Dubai. In fact, the idea was on Dubai's list of economic projects, but British objections postponed its realisation. In 1959, Sheikh Rashid decided to build the airport without any financial aid from anyone.

Abdullah Saleh Emirati businessman and banker

Highlights

Ready for a new start
Rejection of the airport idea
Jebel Ali as an option
Jebel Ali airport plans shelved
The Al Qusais alternative
The visit that hit the target
September 10, 1959... work underway
Dnata... the creation of the agency
Re-fuelling agreement with BP
Operational and administrative agreement
Dubai Airport... experiments start at dawn