The Middle East's leading business aviation advocate, Ali Alnaqbi, was elected chairman of the governing board of the International Business Aviation Council (IBAC). The IBAC Board elected the UAE’s Alnaqbi to the position for a period of three years, effective January 1, at a meeting held last week in conjunction with NBAA-BACE 2019  

Alnaqbi, the first Arab ever to head IBAC, has held the position of vice chairman since 2017 and earlier served as treasurer for three years. He also heads the Middle East Business Aviation Association (MEBAA), which represents business aviation in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. MEBAA is also an IBAC member organization.

Alnaqbi has served in the regional business aviation industry for more than 30 years, enjoying a senior role with Abu Dhabi’s Presidential Flight until 2015, and founded MEBAA in Dubai in 2006.

“This opportunity to guide the business aviation sector not only in the MENA region, but also globally, is a big responsibility, and it is also a perfect synergy with my passion for the industry,” Alnaqbi said. "I look forward to driving the industry forward through IBAC in the next three years in this role.”

Meanwhile, EBAA chairman Juergen Wiese will become IBAC's vice chairman and Sudhir Nayak of the Business Aircraft Operators Association of India will continue to serve as IBAC governing board treasurer.