Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, oversaw the retrofitting of an Emirates A380 on Wednesday when he visited the airline's engineering centre.
Sheikh Mohammed watched as a superjumbo jet was prepared for a fresh interior as part of the airline's $2 billion overhaul programme.
Many of the Airbus planes will be fitted with new premium economy cabins.
The 400,000-square-metre engineering facility spread over 12 hangars is one of the largest structures in the Middle East.
Over two years, the programme aims to upgrade the cabin interiors of 120 aircraft.
Each plane takes about 21 days to refurbish.
Emirates employs more than 5,500 people in various positions in its engineering division. About 60 per cent are Emiratis and 20 per cent are women.
Sheikh Mohammed also visited Terminal 2 at Dubai International Airport, which provides services to 50 other airlines including flydubai.
He was briefed on the airport's operations, including its preparations to handle increased travel demand during the summer holiday season.
In a tweet shared on Wednesday, Sheikh Mohammed praised the Emirates team for their hard work and maintaining a high quality of service.
Dubai International Airport received more than 66 million passengers in 2022.
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Power 345hp @ 5,000rpm
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It’ll be summer in the city as car show tries to move with the times
If 2008 was the year that rocked Detroit, 2019 will be when Motor City gives its annual car extravaganza a revamp that aims to move with the times.
A major change is that this week's North American International Auto Show will be the last to be held in January, after which the event will switch to June.
The new date, organisers said, will allow exhibitors to move vehicles and activities outside the Cobo Center's halls and into other city venues, unencumbered by cold January weather, exemplified this week by snow and ice.
In a market in which trends can easily be outpaced beyond one event, the need to do so was probably exacerbated by the decision of Germany's big three carmakers – BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi – to skip the auto show this year.
The show has long allowed car enthusiasts to sit behind the wheel of the latest models at the start of the calendar year but a more fluid car market in an online world has made sales less seasonal.
Similarly, everyday technology seems to be catching up on those whose job it is to get behind microphones and try and tempt the visiting public into making a purchase.
Although sparkly announcers clasp iPads and outline the technical gadgetry hidden beneath bonnets, people's obsession with their own smartphones often appeared to offer a more tempting distraction.
“It's maddening,” said one such worker at Nissan's stand.
The absence of some pizzazz, as well as top marques, was also noted by patrons.
“It looks like there are a few less cars this year,” one annual attendee said of this year's exhibitors.
“I can't help but think it's easier to stay at home than to brave the snow and come here.”
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