Qatar Airways CEO hosts top international media following Islamic Museum grand opening in Doha

The airline's CEO was speaking during a luncheon where senior officials from the airline hosted around 90 international media from around the world, in Doha for the highly anticipated museum opening.

The Museum of Islamic Art is the flagship project of Qatar Museums Authority (QMA), and was inaugurated over the weekend by Qatar's Emir, His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani in an opening ceremony that featured heads of state and invited celebrities from across the globe.

As the Official Airline for the QMA, Qatar Airways flew in top international media and art critics to Doha for the historic occasion. The invited media were among the first in the world to walk through the museum's galleries, filled with what is being touted as the finest collection of Islamic art ever assembled.

"It is an honour for Qatar Airways to have partnered with the Qatar Museums Authority for the opening of this outstanding museum," said Al Baker.

"This great cultural landmark will draw patrons from around the world to Doha, and it is a time of great celebration of the region's rich culture and heritage."

Al Baker used the opportunity to highlight Qatar Airways' extraordinary growth since its re-launch in 1997, emphasising that the airline's current fleet size of 64 Airbus and Boeing aircraft is set to double within the next five years.

He said Qatar Airways current order for 200 aircraft worth around $40bn demonstrated the airline's aggressive expansion strategy, which includes moving to the New Doha International Airport in 2011.

"Doha is moving at a rapid pace, having the fastest growing economy in the world, and Qatar Airways is proud to be among the companies at the forefront of this development,"

added Al Baker.