Emirates has appointed Khalid Al Zarooni as its new Country Manager for the Philippines, where he will lead the airline’s commercial operations and support the continued growth of one of its key markets in Southeast Asia.
Al Zarooni brings nearly two decades of international aviation experience to the role, having joined Emirates in 2006 and served in various commercial and leadership positions across Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. Most recently, he was appointed Vice President for Saudi Arabia in 2024.
Throughout his career, he has managed operations in Cyprus, Uganda, Tanzania, Morocco, Greece, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia, overseeing commercial strategy, corporate sales, stakeholder engagement, and government relations while leading multicultural teams across diverse markets.
His leadership has earned recognition across the Emirates network. Teams under his management received the Top Sales Team Award in Morocco and the Top Corporate Award in Saudi Arabia.
While assigned in Greece, Al Zarooni was also elected President and Chairperson of the Board of Airline Representatives by the country’s foreign airline community, becoming the youngest person to hold the position. His election reflected the confidence of industry peers in his professionalism, transparency, and collaborative leadership.
Al Zarooni holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wolverhampton in England.
“The Philippines has long been one of Emirates’ key markets in Southeast Asia,” said Al Zarooni. “Building on Emirates’ 36-year presence in the country, I look forward to working with our customers, travel trade partners and stakeholders to unlock new opportunities for growth and further strengthen Emirates’ position in the market.”
The appointment comes as Emirates continues to expand its presence in the Philippines. Earlier this year, the airline increased its operations to 32 weekly flights serving Manila, Cebu, and Clark, providing travelers with greater connectivity to its global network through its hub in Dubai.
With his extensive international experience and proven commercial leadership, Al Zarooni is expected to help strengthen Emirates’ partnerships with the local travel industry while supporting the airline’s continued expansion in the Philippine market.