High Steaks

Ghaith Al Ghaith isn’t sure of his exact birth date. “In  the days I was born, not everyone had a birth certificate,” says the UAE national who serves as Executive Vice President for Commercial Operations Worldwide, Emirates. “I would say I was born around ’64, ’63.”

Ghaith Al Ghaith, Executive Vice President for Commercial Operations Worldwide, Emirates and Chief Executive Officer of Dubai’s new low -cost airline

“It’s one of these things that show you how dramatically things have changed here,” he adds.

Al Ghaith does know that he was born in a neighbour’s house in Shindaga, shortly after the sea swept his family’s house away in a storm. They later moved into one of the newest houses in Dubai. “It was one of the few houses made of concrete,” he recalls, as he describes the building of the Shindagha Tunnel and Port Rashid.

He describes himself as “just like any kid”, and remembers disliking school. “Any kid from that time will tell you they hated school. You look at your peers and say, ‘They didn’t go to school, what’s the deal?’ But school was also something that people respected. If you didn’t succeed you would dishonour your family. That was a driver.”

Al Ghaith moved to the United States for university, graduating from University of Arizona with a business degree. He says he was fortunate enough to have travelled to the US before moving, describing the experience of going to an American restaurant with other UAE nationals. “I knew that you can eat a steak
well-done, rare and medium,” he recalls. “They said, ‘how did you know that?’”

But Al Ghaith didn’t always get it right, like when he once ordered pizza. “I thought the large size was for one person, so I ordered two large pizzas for two people,” he remembers, laughing.

In 1986, following graduation, Al Ghaith began his career as a sales trainee for Emirates. “Eighy-six, I know that year for sure,” he says smiling.

Another year Al Ghaith will likely remember is 2008, as he was recently named CEO of Dubai’s new low-cost airline. The Emirates’ Group will assist the new carrier in its initial stages, but the yet unnamed company is slated to stand alone.

While Al Ghaith remains silent on details of the organisation, the airline is scheduled to operate within the next year, initially flying within the GCC and neighbouring countries.

“I am confident that with Ghaith as the CEO, this new airline will be very successful,” His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Group and the new company, told press shortly after the announcement.

“I have all the confidence knowing that I have the Emirates platform to work from, at least in the start,” says Al Ghaith on his assignment. “And, of course, having the backup of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, who is not only a good boss, but a good friend, is something that adds an extra twist of pressure.”

Is he stressing out? “It is going to be very busy, because the volume of work in the beginning is naturally more,” he admits. “It is an exciting busy, though, rather than bad busy. Not a lot of people have the opportunity to cap their career by doing something like this.”