TravTalk Middle East Online Magazine
With a career spanning over 30 years, with nearly 20 having been spent in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Nasir Jamal Khan, CEO, Al Naboodah Travel and Tourism has been recognised as one of the most influential travel and tourism industry players in the region due to his vast knowledge and experience in the two key markets of KSA and UAE.
Shehara Rizly
As General Sales Agent (GSA) for 11 major airlines such as Air Canada, Cathay Pacific Airways, Turkish Airlines, SaudiGulf Airlines, to name a few, Nasir Jamal Khan heads Al Naboodah Travel and Tourism, the travel and tourism business of Al Naboodah Group Enterprise (ANGE).
Talking about his passion for travel, Khan shared, “As a child, I used to frequently travel with my father as we had family living in the US, UK and other European countries. I used to enjoy the entire process of travelling – the aircraft, the air hostesses, meals and candies served onboard. At a very young age, I was hired by the travel division of American Express and within six months, I was promoted to be a supervisor of one of its branches ‘Implant in UNDP’ in Islamabad, the largest revenue generating unit of American Express.”
Scaling new heights
As Chief Executive Officer, Khan has been successful in placing Al Naboodah Travel and Tourism as a leading travel company on the tourism map of the UAE. His accomplished business intelligence has been much applauded in terms of getting the right travel apparatus to suit the clientele according to time and relevance. The recent GSA of SaudiGulf Airlines was awarded to ANGE which was an addition to their portfolio.
Passion drives success
It is no secret that some of the most successful leaders in the world are those who thrive on their passion. Khan shares, “I have seen many of my colleagues at American Express switching to other industries. Travelling has been my passion since childhood. If you enjoy your job, you are bound to excel. My career spans nearly 34 to 35 years in travel trade, and I assume that I will retire too when in travel.”
Backed with strong foundation
Khan was well groomed and trained to face various challenges in life. “My father brought me up well on both fronts – academic and practical. He would get me involved in things related to home affairs, banks, customers and negotiations. I even had to travel a lot with my father. He always advised me to be happy and contented in life, and limit my wishlist within the resources.”
Turning point
Meticulous in his dealings, Khan stands out as a master in the field of travel and tourism in the region due to the many skills honed throughout 20 years in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and 13 years in the UAE. next 10 years and tourism in the region due to the many skills honed throughout 20 years in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and 13 years in the UAE. After completing his tenure with American Express, Khan, on his visit to KSA, was offered an irresistible package and position which kept him hooked on for the next 10 years. At this point he managed to establish Emirates GSA setup in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Eventually, after serving the most renowned travel company in KSA, he was head hunted by Gulf Air to be the Area Manager for the region. His next venture was Dubai where he was once again selected to head one of the most prestigious companies in the UAE. Today, as Chief Executive officer of Al Naboodah Travel and Tourism, Khan has built a rich network of strong relationships between the UAE and KSA through his life experience.
