Ghaith Al Ghaith fished from the teeming Al Shindagha shore of Dubai Creek as a boy.
Today he still enjoys life’s three great simple pleasures of family, football and fishing.
The flydubai chief is surprisingly understated. He seems especially so in an industry with its fair share of executive peacockery.
His laid-back style is a characteristic he shares with his mentor, Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, who is the chairman of both flydubai and Emirates.
The approach contrasts sharply with the breakneck growth of flydubai since it launched in 2008.
Last year it added 23 new routes, making it one of the region’s fastest growing carriers.
While many of its destinations require a good atlas to locate, its expansion across central Asia, eastern Europe and Africa is reaping rewards.
Last year its profit grew more than 12 per cent to Dh250 million, helped by teasing out lucrative but overlooked routes such as Kuwait City, where it now operates 77 flights per week.
Some of its latest additions also seem counter-intuitive at first glance. As Dubai’s hoteliers mourned the loss of Russian tourists to the country’s economic crisis, flydubai last month added the cities of Novosibirsk and Nizhniy Novgorod to its Russian network. As other carriers stripped capacity away, Mr Al Ghaith’s airline picked up the slack.
It is also building its presence in Iran, adding Lar to its list of eight other destinations in the country, which should position the airline well if international sanctions are relaxed or removed.
“We are growing wherever there are opportunities,” Mr Al Ghaith says.
The rapid expansion into underserved destinations from Juba to Bandar Abbas is not unlike the trail blazed by Ireland’s Ryanair when it first opened up low-cost travel to cities across central and eastern Europe.
With such momentum to maintain, great questions of fuel hedging, open skies and protectionism are probably not going to keep the chief executive and football fan up at night. But Arsène Wenger’s Arsenal team choice for the end of season English Premier League clash with Manchester United just might.
“I had to go home for a nap to prepare for the game yesterday,” he confides, referring to Arsenal’s 3-1 defeat of Hull the night before our meeting in Dubai.
The interview feels a bit like being in a half-time Match of the Day discussion with occasional references to the airline industry.
He switches between global aviation politics, marlin fishing and football tactics with the dexterity of a good holding midfielder – the lack of which has been at the root of Arsenal’s problems in recent seasons, he points out.
Creating space in the crowded pitch of the aviation industry has also defined flydubai's growth strategy. As the region's big three carriers target the major hubs of global travel, flydubai's model is all about finding the most profitable spokes within range of its fleet of about 50 Boeing 737-800 NG aircraft.
The latest additions to its network in Russia and Iran are an extension of that theme.
As a student in the United States in the early 1980s, Mr Al Ghaith remembers being surprised at the concept of commuting to work by plane. Today he has found similarly huge potential for commuter traffic growth within the region and in India, where he would like to see the airline have a much greater presence.
“It happens in America, it happens in Europe and then it happens here,” he says of air traffic trends. “Here there are still not enough seats, there are not enough flights.”
But it is India where he sees the most potential for flydubai to grow, despite a constrictive seat allocation system that limits the expansion of foreign carriers in the country.
“Our best bet is that the government of India decides there are certain routes that can be opened up to encourage people to commute more easily,” he says.
Less than 2 per cent of the airline’s capacity is taken up by India. He says it should account for more like 20 per cent of its capacity. Pakistan also represents a big opportunity, he says.
Mr Al Ghaith learnt the ropes of the global aviation industry at Emirates, where he joined as a management trainee in 1986. Sheikh Ahmed has been a lifelong influence and was the reason he joined Emirates in the first place, he says.
The Emirates’ style of ambitious growth is reflected in flydubai’s expansion since it started life seven years ago as Dubai’s first low-cost airline.
A management structure that supports quick decision-making has helped it to accelerate from a standing start in March 2008 to operating 1,400 flights a week today.
“In a lot of countries you have bureaucrats, politicians and other interests – so the process can take a long time,” he says.
Mr Al Ghaith’s association with Sheikh Ahmed goes all the way back to those childhood days when he fished from the creek in the same neighbourhood as the man who would become his mentor.
It is the sort of image of old Dubai that would not look out of place in an Emirates global advertising campaign – a reminder of the emirate’s maritime history and heritage shot in sepia, in the days before indoor ski slopes and record-breaking towers turned our heads.
But it is also explains why, for Mr Al Ghaith, running flydubai is as much about the bigger picture of the emirate’s and country’s progress and development.
While the row over whether the region’s big carriers benefit from state support rages on and accusations of unfair play are lobbed back and forth across the Atlantic, it is perhaps this intangible characteristic of airlines such as Emirates and flydubai that sets them apart.
“You have to understand and live the dynamics of our country in order to judge,” he says. “I would not go and work for someone else. For us it’s not just a job.”
As we part, the conversation moves back to football and fishing. He talks about landing his first marlin and how he would like to watch the FA Cup final at the end of the month with his son, who is coming through national service.
The fishing is not what it used to be off the coast of Dubai, I remark.
“Not so,” he says. “You just need to know where to look to catch them.”
Which rather sums up the flydubai approach to finding passengers.
scronin@thenational.ae
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How Filipinos in the UAE invest
A recent survey of 10,000 Filipino expatriates in the UAE found that 82 per cent have plans to invest, primarily in property. This is significantly higher than the 2014 poll showing only two out of 10 Filipinos planned to invest.
Fifty-five percent said they plan to invest in property, according to the poll conducted by the New Perspective Media Group, organiser of the Philippine Property and Investment Exhibition. Acquiring a franchised business or starting up a small business was preferred by 25 per cent and 15 per cent said they will invest in mutual funds. The rest said they are keen to invest in insurance (3 per cent) and gold (2 per cent).
Of the 5,500 respondents who preferred property as their primary investment, 54 per cent said they plan to make the purchase within the next year. Manila was the top location, preferred by 53 per cent.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Akeed
Based: Muscat
Launch year: 2018
Number of employees: 40
Sector: Online food delivery
Funding: Raised $3.2m since inception
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
The specs: 2018 BMW R nineT Scrambler
Price, base / as tested Dh57,000
Engine 1,170cc air/oil-cooled flat twin four-stroke engine
Transmission Six-speed gearbox
Power 110hp) @ 7,750rpm
Torque 116Nm @ 6,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined 5.3L / 100km
SPECS
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In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
England World Cup squad
Eoin Morgan (capt), Moeen Ali, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler (wkt), Tom Curran, Liam Dawson, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, James Vince, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood
What is 'Soft Power'?
Soft power was first mentioned in 1990 by former US Defence Secretary Joseph Nye.
He believed that there were alternative ways of cultivating support from other countries, instead of achieving goals using military strength.
Soft power is, at its root, the ability to convince other states to do what you want without force.
This is traditionally achieved by proving that you share morals and values.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
- Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000
- Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000
- Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000
- Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000
- HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000
- Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000
- Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000
- Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000
- Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000
- Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000
- Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000
- Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
- Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
- Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Trolls World Tour
Directed by: Walt Dohrn, David Smith
Starring: Anna Kendrick, Justin Timberlake
Rating: 4 stars
Safety 'top priority' for rival hyperloop company
The chief operating officer of Hyperloop Transportation Technologies, Andres de Leon, said his company's hyperloop technology is “ready” and safe.
He said the company prioritised safety throughout its development and, last year, Munich Re, one of the world's largest reinsurance companies, announced it was ready to insure their technology.
“Our levitation, propulsion, and vacuum technology have all been developed [...] over several decades and have been deployed and tested at full scale,” he said in a statement to The National.
“Only once the system has been certified and approved will it move people,” he said.
HyperloopTT has begun designing and engineering processes for its Abu Dhabi projects and hopes to break ground soon.
With no delivery date yet announced, Mr de Leon said timelines had to be considered carefully, as government approval, permits, and regulations could create necessary delays.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
Company name: Play:Date
Launched: March 2017 on UAE Mother’s Day
Founder: Shamim Kassibawi
Based: Dubai with operations in the UAE and US
Sector: Tech
Size: 20 employees
Stage of funding: Seed
Investors: Three founders (two silent co-founders) and one venture capital fund
Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
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
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
Europe’s rearming plan
- Suspend strict budget rules to allow member countries to step up defence spending
- Create new "instrument" providing €150 billion of loans to member countries for defence investment
- Use the existing EU budget to direct more funds towards defence-related investment
- Engage the bloc's European Investment Bank to drop limits on lending to defence firms
- Create a savings and investments union to help companies access capital
