MEBAA Founding Chairman retires from government position
Ali Ahmed Alnaqbi dedicating his time to MEBAA’s growth
After 25 years of service, Ali Ahmed Alnaqbi retires from his government position as the Vice President of Finance and Administration at Presidential Flight, Abu Dhabi, U.A.E. as of February 2015.

This milestone of an achievement marks the end of Alnaqbi’s government service but extends his commitment to the industry exponentially, as his time will now be entirely dedicated to the continued success of the Middle East & North Africa Business Aviation Association (MEBAA).

In his long illustrious career in this prestigious organization, Alnaqbi has seen its transition from the erstwhile Private Flight, then to Amiri Flight and onwards to the present Presidential Flight.

The CEO of Presidential Flight Nadir Ahmed Al Hammadi commented on the occasion, “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.”

Ali Alnaqbi has indeed left his indelible legacy in various areas covering the entire

Ali Ahmed Alnaqbi
range of head of state transportation including aircraft acquisition, completion, facilities creation/maintenance, logistics, risk management and aircraft financing. 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.

It is at Presidential Flight that Alnaqbi’s interest in business aviation was rooted and he quickly identified the opportunity for a business aviation venture: Royal Jet, which he founded in 2003 and held the position of Founding Managing Director for 3 years. After having worked in the private and government side of business aviation for fifteen years, Alnaqbi ‘s experience revealed the need for an association to enhance safety, security, efficiency and acceptance of business aviation throughout the region and thus he founded the Middle East & North Africa Business Aviation Association (MEBAA) in 2006.

The year 2006 was indeed a game changing one in his passion and quest for challenging roles in the orderly development of business and private aviation, not only in the United Arab Emirates but in the entire Middle East and North Africa region. From a modest beginning with sixteen founding members, MEBAA membership has reached 235 members in this short span of under ten years. MEBAA acts as catalyzer of continuing education for the industry as it has hosted six increasingly successful editions of the MEBAA Show, a growing number of conferences addressing current industry challenges and opportunities (better known as MEBAA Conference in the region). “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” added Nadir Ahmed Al Hammadi.

Alnaqbi founded MEBAA so that it may act as a single common voice of all members to optimize advocacy on legislative issues to various governments in the region. MEBAA members benefit from this organizations through items like collective risk management methods (MEBAA Aircraft Insurance Scheme (MAIS)), providing a platform for effective communication through joint working groups to convey issues peculiar to business aviation operators to the region’s respective regulatory authorities issues such as the GCAA U.A.E. and GACA in K.S.A. The organization advocates a safety management culture through IS-BAO and IS-BAH training by qualified IBAC professionals and making available an opportunity for members to fulfill their Corporate Social Responsibility (CRS) through the Fly and Feed program which is a joint venture with the World Food Programme (W.F.P.) a programme under the auspices of United Nations in its efforts to alleviate hunger from the globe, are the major initiatives undertaken by MEBAA under the able leadership of Alnaqbi. For 25 years, Ali Alnaqbi had shown his commitment to, and support for, the business aviation industry’s future by dedicating his entire professional career to it.

With every closed door, another is opened, and Alnaqbi’s retirement liberates his time so it can be devoted to expanding MEBAA activities in the region. “I will be dedicating my full time towards MEBAA and ensuring its growth and success” said Alnaqbi when asked about his post-retirement plans.

With the help of its board members, Alnaqbi has led MEBAA into tremendous growth while breaking all barriers for effective communication among the business aviation community. The above has insured that its growth stretched from the far east of the MENA region to its far west, into North Africa where the first edition of MEBAA Morocco Show will be held September this year, in Casablanca.

BlueSky Business Aviation News | 26th February 2015 | Issue #309
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