Ali Ahmed Alnaqbi, the founding chairman of the Middle East & North Africa Business Aviation Association (MEBAA), has retired from his government position at Abu Dhabi’s Presidential Flight after 25 years to focus on the growth of the private aviation association.
Alnaqbi will vacate his role as vice president of Finance and Administration at Presidential Flight, Abu Dhabi at the end of February.
“He [Ali Alnaqbi] is the longest serving member among the top management team and one of the founding members. His successful career at Presidential Flight and his apparent contributions over the years will leave him with pride of achievement,” said Nadir Ahmed Al Hammadi, CEO of Presidential Flight.
“Although he will be missed as a colleague and a friend, it is comforting to know that his determination and dedication is devoted to improve the business aviation industry through MEBAA will keep him in contact with us and will benefit business aviation community. We wish him all the best in leading MEBAA to another level of success which will witness significant challenges but there is no man other than Alnaqbi to overcome them.”
In 2003, Alnaqbi helped found business aviation firm Royal Jet, and held the position of its founding managing director for three years. And in 2006, after having worked in the private and government side of business aviation for fifteen years, Alnaqbi founded MEBAA to help enhance safety, security, efficiency and acceptance of business aviation throughout the region.
From sixteen founding members, MEBAA membership has reached 235 members in under ten years. The association has also been a catalyst of continuing education for the industry as hosting six successful editions of the MEBAA Show, and a growing number of conferences.
MEBAA said through a statement that its members benefit through items like collective risk management methods (MEBAA Aircraft Insurance Scheme), and have a platform for effective communication through joint working groups to convey issues to the region’s respective regulatory authorities.
MEBAA added that it advocates a safety management culture through IS-BAO and IS-BAH training by qualified IBAC professionals and gives its members an opportunity to fulfil their Corporate Social Responsibility (CRS) through a Fly and Feed programme which is a joint venture with the United Nation’s World Food Programme a programme.
“I will be dedicating my full time towards MEBAA and ensuring its growth and success” said Alnaqbi when asked about his post-retirement plans.
Alnaqbi has also been recently elected as treasury of the International Business Aviation Council (IBAC) and in addition to his seat as a governing member to the board of IBAC and currently sits on the board of a number of international companies in the business aviation industry.