Thabet Musleh is Chief Retail and Hospitality Officer at Qatar Airways, overseeing the Group’s retail and food & beverage operations through Qatar Duty Free (QDF), as well as Internal Media Services, Dhiafatina Hotels, Qatar Airways’ global lounge portfolio, and Qatar Aircraft Catering Company.

Since joining Qatar Airways in 2015, Thabet has played an integral role in the development of Qatar Duty Free’s retail and hospitality strategy at Hamad International Airport. Under his leadership, QDF has expanded to a workforce of more than 4,000 employees and has supported the airport’s growth as a major international retail and dining hub.

During this period, Qatar Duty Free has recorded strong commercial performance, with a focus on experience-led hospitality, a broad mix of retail and dining concepts, and the introduction of new formats and partnerships across the airport’s commercial areas.

Thabet’s contribution to the travel retail sector has been recognised by industry peers, including being named among The Moodie Davitt Report’s People of the Year from 2021 to 2025. In 2023, he also received an Outstanding Contribution Award at the Frontier Awards, acknowledging his role in the continued evolution of Hamad International Airport’s retail and dining offer. Most recently, at the 2026 Food & Beverage (FAB) + Hospitality Awards, Thabet received the FAB Award for Extraordinary Innovation and Quality Enhancement in Airport Food & Beverage, further recognising his leadership in shaping and elevating the airport’s hospitality and dining experience. 

Thabet brings more than twenty years of experience in travel retail. Before joining Qatar Airways, he spent ten years with World Duty Free Group, holding senior operational roles at Heathrow, Gatwick, and Stansted airports.

At Qatar Duty Free, he was appointed Head of Retail Operations in 2015, before being promoted to lead QDF in January 2018, and subsequently held the roles of Vice President Operations (2018), Vice President (2021), Senior Vice President (2023), before assuming his current position as Chief Retail and Hospitality Officer of Qatar Airways.