Air Arabia Group Chief Executive Officer Receives Top Executive Leadership Honour at Airline Strategy Awards 2026

Air Arabia Group Chief Executive Officer, Adel Al Ali, has been honored with the Executive Leadership for Africa and the Middle East award at the Airline Strategy Awards 2026, held in London.

Airline Strategy Awards 2026 – Executive Leadership for Africa & Middle East
Recipient: Adel Al Ali, Group CEO, Air Arabia
Event: Airline Strategy Awards 2026, London
Organizer: Flight Global in partnership with Korn Ferry
Edition: 22nd

Why He Was Honored
- Visionary leadership: Founded Air Arabia in 2003, pioneering the low-cost carrier (LCC) model in the Arab world.
- Regional impact: Expanded affordable air travel to millions, enhancing connectivity across the Middle East and Africa.
- Operational success:
- Record 2025 performance: AED 1.8 billion net profit, AED 7.78 billion turnover.
- Expanded network with ~30 new routes.
- Fleet growth supported by 120 Airbus A320 Family aircraft on order.
- Recent milestones (2026): New non-stop services from Sharjah to London Gatwick and Rome Fiumicino.

From Adel Al Ali
> “This recognition is a testament to the dedication, passion and commitment of the entire Air Arabia team… It inspires us to continue innovating and contributing to the sustainable growth of the industry.”

This award cements Adel Al Ali’s role as a transformational leader in aviation, driving both affordability and sustainability while positioning Air Arabia as the region’s largest budget airline operator.