MUSCAT: Forbes Middle East has ranked two Omanis among the most powerful travel and tourism leaders in the region. The list included Abdulaziz Al Raisi, CEO of Oman Air and Hashil Al Mahrouqi, CEO of Omran.

Abdulaziz Al Raisi, who joined Oman Air in 2007, was appointed as the CEO in 2017. Oman Air offers flight services to 48 destinations across Africa, Asia and Europe with a fleet of 40 aircrafts. The report additionally said that in 2021, the company announced its expansion by adding 10 new routes to the USA, including New York, Los Angeles, and Washington DC. In the same year, the company signed an agreement with EGYPTAIR as well. Al Raisi was previously chairman of Muscat Duty-Free.

The other Omani businessman listed is Hashil Al Mahrouqi who assumed his current position in early 2021. Omran Group employs more than 4,251 employees in various sectors, including five development projects, 27 hotels and resorts and four subsidiaries. In early 2022, the group announced its plan to invest $62.3 million in the opening of dusitD2 Naseem Resort. It also signed a partnership agreement with Diamond Developers to develop the first phase of Yiti Integrated Tourism Development.

The year 2021 brought positive growth for the tourism and travel sector as the industry was able to recover after over a year of disruption due to the pandemic. As the distribution of vaccines expands, countries continue to open their doors and ease the restrictions imposed, the industry would be equipped to boost its growth in 2022.

Forbes Middle East released their first ranking of the Middle East’s Top 50 Travel & Tourism Leaders. “The U.A.E. dominates, with 24 leaders featured based in the emirates, followed by 11 in Saudi Arabia, and four in Egypt. The hotels and hospitality sector is the most dominant with 26 entries, followed by aviation with 17, and tourism with seven entries,” the report read.