Three From Qatar Named Among Forbes Middle East's 'Top 100 Travel And Tourism Leaders 2025'

Doha: Forbes Middle East has recognised three executives from Qatar in its Top 100 Travel and Tourism Leaders 2025, a list honouring individuals from across the MENA region, covering key areas such as aviation, hospitality, tourism development, and travel services.

Eng. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, CEO of Qatar Airways Group, ranked 3rd; Eng. Abdulaziz Ali Al‐Mawlawi, CEO of Visit Qatar, came in at 25th; and Tarek M. El Sayed, Managing Director and CEO of Al Rayyan Tourism Investment Company (ARTIC), was ranked 33rd.

3rd – Eng. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer

Forbes attributed Al-Meer's ranking to his strategic leadership since becoming CEO of Qatar Airways Group in 2023. Under his direction, the airline has expanded aggressively, including a $96 billion deal signed in May 2025 with Boeing and GE Aerospace to acquire up to 210 aircraft.

Qatar Airways posted $23.5 billion in revenue and $2.2 billion in net profit for the 2024–2025 financial year. The airline also expanded its global footprint by acquiring a 25% stake in South Africa's Airlink in 2024 and a 25% stake in Virgin Australia for $514 million in March 2025. Al-Meer currently serves on the board of the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

25th – Eng. Abdulaziz Ali Al-Mawlawi

Recognised for his efforts in positioning Qatar as a rising global tourism destination, Al-Mawlawi has led Visit Qatar since May 2024, following his previous role as Chief Marketing and Promotion Officer at Qatar Tourism.

In January 2025, Visit Qatar announced a five-year partnership with the Professional Triathletes Organization to host the Triathlon World Championship Finals Qatar T100 from 2025 to 2029. That same year, Qatar welcomed more than five million international visitors for the first time– a 25% year-on-year increase. Hotel capacity reached 41,000 rooms by the end of 2024.

33rd – Tarek M. El Sayed

El Sayed was highlighted for overseeing ARTIC's expansive hospitality portfolio as Managing Director and CEO since 2017. As of May 2025, the company operated 35 hotels and resorts with a total of 8,168 rooms and 1,300 residences across 15 cities, including Doha, Cairo, Istanbul, Rome, London, Miami, and New York.

In 2024, ARTIC launched its Hospitality Excellence Program, offering internship opportunities to both Qatari and expatriate students. El Sayed also serves as Chairman of Seldar Holding in Egypt and sits on the board of BNF Bank p.l.c. in Malta.

Forbes Middle East assessed leaders based on business size, revenue, investment value, asset ownership, executive influence, regional presence, and notable achievements during 2024 and 2025.

The 2025 list features leaders from across the MENA region, covering key areas such as aviation, hospitality, tourism development, and travel services.

Despite challenges, Forbes noted that the Middle East remains a growing tourism powerhouse, driven by visionary leadership, robust investment, and a pipeline of high-impact projects.

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