Organised by Ameeraga Tamil Sangam, the event had participants from across the UAE
Then 27 years old, Al Zarouni paid Dh1,533 to be one of the 133 passengers of the flight. But neither he nor anyone on that plane could've imagined that flight EK600 would serve as the Dubai flag carrier's takeoff to becoming the world's No. 1 airline.
"It was my first air journey and I spent almost one-third of my salary to support my country and the airline," Al Zarouni told Khaleej Times.
"I spent a good four days in Karachi at my uncle's residence in the Defence Housing Authority. I travelled many times to Karachi and other destinations across the globe but the joy of that first flight is remarkable."
Al Zarouni, now 61, has kept his boarding pass for 34 years, but this time he wants to personally hand it to the airline's chairman as a gift ahead of Emirates' upcoming anniversary and as a memento that can be kept at the Emirates Airline Museum on Terminal 3.
"I want to present this to Sheikh Ahmed as a tribute for his leadership and wisdom to make Emirates the world's No. 1 airline," he said.
Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, president of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, chairman of Emirates airline and chief executive of the Emirates Group, was on board the inaugural flight along with other top dignitaries.
"The flight was full, and many Emiratis like me bought a ticket to support Dubai's first airline," said Al Zarouni, who paid rich tribute to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, for his visionary leadership.
"I value the cooperation of Pakistan International Airlines for lending its two aircraft to launch Emirates. Today, we are No. 1 and the credit goes to our visionary leaders," he added.
When Emirates flew its first routes out of Dubai in October 1985, it had only two aircraft, a leased Boeing 737 and an Airbus 300 B4. Today, with a fleet of more than 265 aircraft, it flies to over 155 destinations in more than 80 countries around the world.
Al Zarouni, who served at the Dubai Health Authority, proudly displays a certificate given to him by Emirates for being among the first passengers on its commercial flight.
muzaffarrizvi@khaleejtimes.com
Organised by Ameeraga Tamil Sangam, the event had participants from across the UAE
The esteemed initiative delivered essential grocery food baskets to around 5,000 deserving families across 14 Bangladeshi districts
Judges for the AI awards not only recognise excellence and innovation, but also assess performance and monitor progress in artificial intelligence computing and responses
A plea moved in court stated that no one is permitted to wear the official state institution outfit
Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso had been the favourite to succeed Klopp but has now committed himself to the German club after leading them to a first-ever Bundesliga title
Sheikh Hamdan joined the kids as they browsed through some photos that captured how they used broomsticks and helped their community
The family's furniture, household appliances as well as the books and stationery of the children were destroyed in the April 16 floods
The 22-time Grand Slam champion and his wife Maria Francisca Perello welcomed their first child together in October 2022