As CEO of Dubai’s first low-cost carrier flydubai, Ghaith Al Ghaith is responsible for the strategic direction of the airline, working closely with its Chairman, His Highness Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum.

Prior to flydubai, Al Ghaith had a long track record in aviation with Emirates Airline where his positions included Executive Vice-President Commercial Operations Worldwide, Area Manager UK and Ireland, and GM Commercial Operations Europe and North America.

At the helm of flydubai since its inception on 1 June 2009, he has brought together a dynamic team to build a single fleet type of 58 Next-Generation Boeing 737-800 aircraft and will take delivery of more than 100 aircraft by the end of2023.

The airline flies to a network of more than 115 destinations in 54 countries across Africa, Central Asia, the Caucasus, Central and South-East Europe, the GCC and the Middle East, and the Indian Subcontinent.

Al Ghaith is keen to draw attention to how flydubai’s brand livery came about – a striking blend of blue and orange representing Dubai’s climate, landscape, and coastline. He explains: “We are very proud to carry the UAE flag and we wanted to have a very clear connection to Dubai in our livery.”

Al Ghaith holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from the University of Arizona, USA. He was awarded Personal Achievement of the Year at the Aviation Business Awards 2011, as well as Aviation CEO of the Year at both the 2011 and 2009 CEO Middle East Awards.