Eng. Badr Mohammed Al Meer has been named the new Group Chief Executive of Qatar Airways Group effective 05 November 2023. He succeeded His Excellency Akbar Al Baker who stepped down from his post after 27 years of remarkable service.

Al Meer’s appointment marks a significant milestone in the Group’s history, signaling a new era of growth and innovation in the highly competitive global aviation industry.

Qatar Airways Group’s subsidiaries include Qatar Airways, the national flag carrier of Qatar; Qatar Airways Cargo; Qatar Duty-Free; Hamad International Airport; Al Maha Services; Qatar Aviation Services; Qatar Aircraft Catering Company, among others.

Prior to his appointment as Group Chief Executive, Al Meer had been managing the day-to-day operations of the award-winning Hamad International Airport (HIA) as Chief Operating Officer since June 2014.

Under Al Meer’s leadership, HIA was transformed into one of the world’s leading aviation hubs known for its impressive passenger travel and leisure experience.

Between April 2022 to March 2023, HIA welcomed nearly 39 million passengers. It serves as the gateway to more than 257 destinations worldwide. It was recognized as the “Best Airport in the World” during the SKYTRAX World Airport Awards in 2022.

This year, the airport won the “World’s Best Airport for Shopping” award, the “Cleanest Airport in the Middle East” title, and the “Best Airport in the Middle East” for the 9th consecutive year at the SKYTRAX World Airport Awards 2023.

Al Meer served nine years with United Development Company, one of Qatar’s leading public shareholding companies before joining HIA. He holds dual degrees in engineering from the American University of Beirut and the University of Colorado in the United States.