Using this experience, combined with the skills he developed while attaining an economics degree from London University in 1971, he scrutinised demographic data and passenger statistics to identify profitable new routes for Emirates. Sir Tim saw potential in routes other airlines had passed over and for the first Emirates route, Pakistan was targeted - a nation which had a population of more than 150 million people but just one state carrier. Dubai’s strategic location was obvious and services to India soon followed, laying the foundations for him to build a sprawling network which now connects billions of people.