The Postal History of ICAO

United Arab Emirates - History of Civil Aviation in the Emirate of Dubai

Issue date: 07/12/2014

The signature of the Commercial Air Agreement on 22 July 1937. Signed by Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum (pictured on the stamp), this agreement between Dubai and Great Britain was considered to be the first liberal, open skies agreement to be signed by any two countries in the world, thus starting civil aviation in Dubai with a flying boat base for the aircraft of Imperial Airways (Aircraft shown on the stamp: Imperial Airways Short S.23 Empire).

Signed by Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, the decree dated 18 March 1971 established the Dubai Department of Civil Aviation (see stamp in the middle) to handle all matters relating to airport operations – including granting traffic rights and operating permissions – within one authority, providing the cohesive direction that has marked the progress of aviation in Dubai ever since. The stamp shows various stages of Dubai International Airport: opened in 1960 (left), 1969 (middle), and 1980 (right).

The Dubai Duty Free (DDF) opened for business on 20 December 1983. In addition to the picture of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rachid Al Maktoum, this stamp shows Al Maktoum International Airport opened on 27 June 2010 in the main part of Dubai World Central, and two aircraft: an Airbus A380 from Emirates airline and a Boeing 737-800 NextGen from FlyDubai airline. FlyDubai was established as Dubai’s first low-cost airline on 1 June 2009.

Dubai – 7 December 2014 – Philatelic notice.

First day cover (Front and back). 1000 copies were printed.

7 December 2014 - First Day Ceremony held at Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum House in Shindagha, Dubai.

Upper picture: Unveiling of the three commemorative postal stamps, with the first day cover and the philatelic notice. Seen on the picture: Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, DCAA, and Mohammed Abdullah Ahli, Director-general of DCAA.

Lower picture: The unveiling ceremony was held in the presence of a large number of dignitaries, which included Mohammed Abdulla Ahli, Director General of the DCAA, and Rob Waller, Consul-General for the US in Dubai.

Photos: DCAA

Stamp issue shown on a clear glass plaque with horizontal base – Photo: Bernard Pelsser.

The plaque shown here-above was nicely wrapped in white deluxe box, with the emblem of the

Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, surrounded by a golden frame.

The December 2014 issue of Via Dubai magazine was devoted to the commemoration of ICAO’s 70^th anniversary. The above pictures show the front page and page 11 of this issue.

Background :

The Emirate of Dubai (part of the United Arab Emirates, UAE) issued a set of 3 stamps and a related first day cover, both released on 7 December 2014 to highlight Civil Aviation’s History in Dubai during a first-day ceremony coinciding exactly with the 70^th anniversary of the signature of the Chicago Convention and the 20^th anniversary of the International Civil Aviation Day. Significant events are reflected in the themes of these special postage stamps released by the Emirates Post (Empost), in collaboration with the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA). The stamps celebrate Dubai’s inspiring civil aviation growth and development since 1937, when it became the first in the world to pursue what is now known as Open Skies policy as a result of signing the Dubai Commercial Air Agreement. The UAE is a Member State of ICAO since 25 April 1972.

These postal stamps reflect the significant developments that took place during the three eras that converged the wonderful journey of civil aviation in Dubai from the creek leading towards establishing a twin-airport city and taking its airlines, Emirates and Flydubai, to greater heights besides other areas of the aviation industry. In addition to the release of the postal stamps, Dubai paid tribute to the drafters of the Chicago Convention, the International Civil Aviation Organization and its officials and to all the States for their contribution towards the development of international civil aviation for the benefit of the people and to preserve friendship and understanding amongst nations. During this occasion, DCAA also released a special edition of its monthly bilingual newsletter, Via Dubai dedicated to the 70th Anniversary of the Chicago Convention.

Unveiling ceremony :

Speaking on the occasion of the unveiling of the stamps, Sheikh Ahmed said, "The Emirate of Dubai has worked closely with the International Civil Aviation Organisation, ICAO, in a number of initiatives which has shown tremendous progress through the years. Dubai has developed the aviation infrastructure to provide necessary connectivity, facilities and other related services for the benefit of the global aviation industry and the travelling public. We are committed to continue with such contribution."

Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansoori, UAE’s Minister of Economy and Chairman of General Civil Aviation Authority, GCAA, in his message to Via Dubai, the newsletter of the DCAA, said, "I consider the Chicago Convention as an important Public International Law instrument that brought every State under one umbrella with a view to developing international civil aviation and preserve friendship and understanding among the nations and the people of the world. The UAE is proud to be associated with this Convention and the ICAO." "The UAE acceded to the Chicago Convection on 25 April 1972 and was elected as a member of the ICAO Council in 2007 and remained a member of the Council since then. UAE carriers have been providing innovative service and efficient connectivity to the travelling public by connecting the continents. There are over 100 scheduled carriers operating through the airports in the UAE. The UAE has signed over 122 fully liberalized and/or open skies agreements with ICAO Member States. This amply demonstrates our liberal approach in the air transport industry."

Mohammed Ahli, Director General of DCAA, said: "The Dubai Civil Aviation Authority has been working closely with the ICAO for several decades, supporting its activities in numerous ways. DCAA is committed to continue with its efforts to support the development of international civil aviation for the benefit of the people and to preserve friendship and understanding amongst nations, whilst bearing in mind the importance of maintaining safe, secure and environment-friendly aviation industry." He added: "In order to pay our tribute to our Rulers for their vision and contribution in the aviation sector, we have joined hands with Empost to issue three stamps that reflect the three eras that converged, the wonderful journey of civil aviation in Dubai, from the creek to a twin airport city, and taking its airlines, Emirates and flydubai to greater heights, besides other areas of the aviation industry."

At the ceremony, the DCAA honoured its strategic partners: Emirates Airlines, flydubai, Dubai Duty Free, Dubai Customs, Dubai Police and General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai. To mark the occasion, the DCAA released a special edition of its monthly bilingual newsletter, Via Dubai.

In a special message to the newsletter, Dr. Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu, President of the ICAO Council, said, "Over the past seven decades, and with the Convention and its 19 Annexes to guide us, ICAO and its 191 Member States have made enormous progress in realizing this vision. Air transport is an essential component of our global society, a powerful driver of economic, social and cultural development, and the safest and the most efficient mode of mass transportation ever created. The aviation sector will continue to grow exponentially in the next decades, with air traffic set to double its passenger and flight capacity by 2030."