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. Photo: DCAA.

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

Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum (President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, DCAA, Chairman of Dubai Airports, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group) and Mohammed Abdullah Ahli (Director-general of DCAA) unveiling the stamps and first day cover – Photo: 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 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.