Top 100 Arabs 2024

58. Ghaith Al Ghaith

CEO, Flydubai

Origin: UAE

Residence: UAE

Sector: Aviation

2023 Rank: 65

Ghaith is spearheading flydubai’s ambitious network expansion plans. The budget carrier has a global network to 122 destinations across 50 countries in Africa, Central Asia, the Caucasus, Central and South-East Europe, the GCC and the Middle East, and the Indian subcontinent.

In 2024, flydubai placed an $11bn order for 30 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners — its first wide-body aircraft order – that is set to be delivered from 2026.

The airline is also building a $190m maintenance, repair, and operations facility in the Mohammed bin Rashid Aerospace Hub in Dubai South by 2026. It reported a 75 per cent increase in full-year profit to $572m (Dhs2.1bn) in 2023.

Mohammad Ali Bin Rashed Lootah

Abdulla Jassem Kalban