Paul Griffiths CMG

In 2015, the Honorary Doctorate was awarded to Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports.   
Paul joined Dubai Airports as its first CEO in October 2007, and is responsible for the operation and development of Dubai International Airport and Al Maktoum International-Dubai World Central (DWC) airport.

Prior to moving to Dubai, Paul was Managing Director of London’s Gatwick Airport, the second largest airport in the UK. He also spent 14 years with the Virgin Group, working closely with Sir Richard Branson as a Board Director of the Virgin Travel Group. Prior to this, he spent four years in Hong Kong developing the marketing, commercial planning and technology functions for the then start-up airline Dragonair.

Since joining Dubai Airports as CEO, he orchestrated the launch of Terminal 3 at Dubai International, the world’s largest Airport Terminal, and the opening of Concourse A, the world’s first purpose-built A380 facility. With these developments, Dubai international Airport now hosts the most international passenger traffic in the world.

Paul started to learn to play the organ at the age of 10 and later studied both music and computer science. Having aspired to train as a Cathedral Organist, he was highly placed in several national competitions, and has since been a Fellow, Council member, Chairman of the Executive Committee and Vice President of the Royal College of Organists.

In commemoration of his services to British prosperity in the UAE and to music, it was announced that he would become a Companion of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List of 2015.

Since receiving the honorary graduate from MDX Dubai, Paul has remained as CEO and successfully led the airports through the Covid-19 crisis with DXB being one of the first airports to welcome back international tourists.

He then played a crucial role in the recovery of DXB’s operations and growth through travel corridor arrangements with several key markets as well as by lobbying the industry to push for standardised testing-based travel protocols. Paul spearheaded a campaign to keep the hibernating parts of the airport ready for reopening at very short notice. This resulted in the timely and smooth reopening of Terminal 1 and Concourse D in June 2021 and the airport's return to 100 per cent operational capacity with the reopening of Concourse A in November 2021.