Mr. Adel Al Ali
Board Member and Group Chief Executive Officer
Air Arabia
Adel Al Ali is well known for being at the forefront of the development of modern aviation. His innovative achievements and contribution to air transport and tourism sector in the wider Arab world are globally recognised. He managed to transform Arab aviation in October 2003 when he set up Air Arabia, the Middle East and North Africa’s first low-cost carrier (LCC), opening up a market niche in the region whose existence few had suspected.
The pioneering aviator drove Air Arabia’s growth in the next decade into the largest low cost carrier in the MENA region, as well as the first publicly owned airline in the Arab World and it’s largest by market value. Drawing on his multiple years of experience with industry leaders such as Gulf Air and British Airways, Adel has also been able to guide Air Arabia to become amongst the world’s best run Low Cost Carriers, delivering a profit for every year in succession.
Under the leadership of Adel, Air Arabia’s business model has gone from strength-to-strength, enabling it to expand operations, enter new ventures and diversify into new revenue streams. Today, the Group holds a portfolio of successful businesses and projects, offering travel, tourism and hospitality services across the globe.
In addition to being the Group Chief Executive Officer of Air Arabia, Adel is also the chairman of Sharjah Information Systems Associates, Alpha Aviation Academy and Cozmo Travel and he is a board member of Sharjah Aviation Services.
Adel has been awarded ‘Airline CEO of the year’ by various industry forums. He was named ‘World’s best Low Cost Carrier CEO’ during the World LCC Congress. He also entered the “Hall of Fame Award” in 2010, honoring his contribution to the Middle East Aviation. In July 2014, Adel Al Ali won the “Airline Business Award” at the esteemed Airline Strategy Awards 2014. In September 2016, during the CEO Middle East Awards, Adel Al Ali was named “Airline CEO of the Year” in recognition and reward to his outstanding success, innovation and ethics.