Top 100 Arabs 2024

71. Badr Mohammed Al Meer

Group CEO, Qatar Airways

Origin: Qatar

Residence: Qatar

Sector: Aviation

2023 Rank: New

Al Meer was named group CEO of Qatar Airways in December 2023. He oversees one of the world’s biggest airlines with a fleet of more than 200 aircraft flying to more than 170 destinations across six continents.

Qatar Airways’ investment portfolio includes a 25.1 per cent holding in International Airlines Group, 10 per cent in LATAM, 9.99 per cent in Cathay Pacific, and 3.38 per cent in China Southern Airlines, as of December 2023. The aviation group is ushering into a new era of travel by leveraging innovative technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and metaverse.

It unveiled the world’s first AI-powered digital human cabin crew named Sama 2.0 to assist passengers in designing curated travel experiences. The AI cabin crew is accessible through QVerse, the airline’s immersive digital platform, as well as through the airline’s mobile app.

The flag carrier’s profit soared 113.8 per cent year-over-year to $1.03bn (QAR3.74bn) in the first six months of FY2023/24 while its revenue rose 7.4 per cent to reach QAR40.13bn.

Sheikha Amal Suhail Bahwan

Fadi Ghandour