Hamburg honours Emirates' Chairman

On Monday 28th July, His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, was awarded the Verfassungsportugaleser, one of Germany's highest honours, for outstanding services to Hamburg during a Senate reception.

The reception, which saw many Emirates senior officials, representatives from A380 manufacturer Airbus and German delegates gathered at Hamburg's Town Hall, was held to celebrate the handover of an A380 double-decker aircraft to the Dubai-based airline.

HH Sheikh Ahmed received the Verfassungsportugaleser, a gold medal previously awarded to Great Britain's Queen Elizabeth and Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, from Senator of Economics Axel Gedaschko.

During an address to the congregation, HH Sheikh Ahmed said:

"While our relationship with Germany began in 1987 with services to Frankfurt, we established strong bonds with Hamburg in 2006 when we started flying to your magnificent city."

"In this short span of time, Emirates and Hamburg have crossed many bridges together.
And this morning we have taken delivery of our first A380 - the flagship of our future fleet - from your city. I'm grateful to the city of Hamburg for the rousing reception and for a place in your hearts and minds," he added.