LEADERSHIP

Currently serving as the Senior Vice President-Digital at Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DIEZ), Fahim is at the forefront of developing and executing DIEZ’s Digital Vision. His responsibilities include leveraging emerging technologies to drive innovation and enhance operational efficiency across DIEZ that integrates and consolidates the products and services of Dubai Airport Free Zone, Dubai Silicon Oasis, and Dubai CommerCity.

Under his leadership, DIEZ has seen significant advancements in digital integration and technology adoption, fostering an environment of continuous improvement and modernization.

Over the last decade, Fahim has held several senior leadership positions in key entities including Dubai Properties Group and Dubai Airports, where he consistently delivered impactful outcomes. His strategic approach focuses on integrating and simplifying digital solutions to enhance business efficiency, create superior customer engagement, and build connected community ecosystems.

Fahim has a distinguished academic background, with an Executive MBA from INSEAD and a General Management Program from London Business School. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in information technology

Eng. Muammar joined DSO in April 2006 as the Director of Planning and Construction Management Department, enriching DSO with his wide knowledge and experience in construction and project management.

In 2010, DSOA merged the Planning & Constructions Department with the Operations & Facilities department under one leadership. Following this, Eng. Muammar was appointed as Executive VP of Engineering Management. In 2014 Eng. Muammar was appointed as the chairman of the smart city project committee in DSO.

End of 2018, the Dubai Airport Free Zone (DAFZ) commenced with establishing the DUBAI COMMERCITY Project, the first and leading e-commerce free zone in the MEASA region. Following to his track record in the fields of leadership, engineering and smart city, Eng. Muammar Al Katheeri was assigned as the Chief Project Officer of DAFZ’s COMMERCITY with the responsibility of managing the project.

Prior to joining DSO, Eng. Muammar served with major real estate companies in the UAE, he was appointed as the Projects and Maintenance Director at Emirates Real Estate Corporation, where he worked on major projects including the Ministries Complex project AUH; the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Public Works, Ministry of Labor in Dubai; UAE Embassies in Germany and Australia, and the UAE Consulate in Munich, among other prestigious projects. He also served as a Design Engineer at the Ministry of Public Works in Dubai, and as a Project Design Manager at Etisalat in addition to being a partner at a local design consultancy.

Eng. Muammar holds a Master’s degree of Science in Innovation & Change Management from Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University in Dubai, and a Bachelor degree in Architectural Engineering from Al Ain University, UAE. In 2021, he successfully completed the Dubai Leadership Program from the Mohammed Bin Rashid Center for Leadership Development (Dubai Leaders Batch 1).

Amna Lootah is the Director General at Dubai Airport Freezone; Director General and Board Member of Dubai CommerCity; and a member of the executive leadership team of the Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DIEZA), which consolidates and integrates the products and services of three economic zones: the Dubai Airport Freezone, Dubai Silicon Oasis, and Dubai CommerCity, along with a group of companies, projects, and strategic initiatives including Tradeling, Halal Trade and Marketing Centre, and Oraseya Capital.  

Ms. Lootah is one of the leading experts within the special economic zones sector across the emirate of Dubai, UAE and the wider region. She brings over 25 years of extensive experience in several key areas that support the growth of economic zones, including finance, sales and marketing, communications, innovation, digital intelligence, customer experience, lease and licensing, property management, security and partnerships.  

As a member of DIEZ’s executive leadership team, Amna oversees a wide range of strategic initiatives and contributes to the operations designed to ensure the ongoing success of all investors and major companies. She is responsible for strategic marketing, corporate communication, and strengthening partnerships to meet the goals and aspirations of the business community. 

With her extensive experience, Amna significantly contributes to achieving DAFZ's overall ambitions whilst driving innovation, with a commitment to building trust and long-term relationships with DAFZ's customers and strategic partners.  

She is also the Director General and Board Member at Dubai CommerCity, which is the first and leading free zone dedicated to the growing digital commerce market in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. It is an investment of AED 3.2 billion spread over an area of approximately 2.1 million square feet. Dubai CommerCity provides a unique e-commerce ecosystem to global and regional brands to help them set up and operate their e-commerce business in the MENASA region. 

Additionally, Amna serves on the Board of Directors for Tradeling, an innovative and advanced e-commerce platform that is the first of its kind globally for B2B transactions in the UAE and the Middle East and North Africa region.  

Ms. Amna also spearheads the "Halal Trade and Marketing Centre", which is part of DAFZ and serves as a global business development centre that is positioned to benefit industry players and activate halal trade flows through the region. 

Ms. Lootah also contributes through her role in achieving the objectives of Oraseya Capital, DIEZ’s investment arm specializing in funding startups from the pre-seed stage up to the series B investment phase, by supporting DIEZ’s unwavering commitment to supporting entrepreneurs and startups that are shaping the future of the digital economy and driving innovation in Dubai and the UAE.

She holds a Higher Diploma in Banking and Finance, and a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from the Higher Colleges of Technology – Dubai Women's College. She is also a graduate of two programs under the Mohammed Bin Rashid Center for Leadership Development, namely, the “Dubai Government Leaders Program” and the “Dubai Leaders Program”. 

Paul Keely is the Chief Financial Officer at the Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DIEZ), where he leads the financial strategy and operations across three of Dubai’s pioneering free zones, Dubai Airport Freezone, Dubai Silicon Oasis, and Dubai CommerCity.

With over 25 years of international experience, Keely has held senior leadership roles across Europe, the Americas, and the Middle East. He has worked with leading global firms including KPMG and Glencore, and his expertise covers financial transformation, mergers and acquisitions, and strategic growth across sectors including energy, logistics, and private equity.

In his role at DIEZ, Keely is focused on enhancing financial performance, governance, and long-term sustainability in alignment with Dubai’s economic vision. He also serves as a board member for Tradeling, an initiative by DIEZ and the MENA region’s leading B2B eMarketplace, which connects global suppliers with regional buyers to streamline trade and procurement; and Oraseya Capital, DIEZ’s venture capital arm that invests in early to growth-stage startups, up to the Series B investment stage, to drive innovation and support Dubai’s digital economy and entrepreneurial ecosystem.

A Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales (ICAEW), and a graduate in Business and Law, Keely is currently pursuing a Master’s in Blockchain and Digital Currency from the University of Nicosia, reinforcing his commitment to Dubai’s innovation-driven economy.

Yousuf Ali Behzad is the Chief People Corporate Strategy & Support Officer at Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DIEZA).

Mr. Yousuf heads numerous key areas in DIEZA, including Human Resources, Organization Transformation, and Partnership & Protocols. He is in charge of creating, maintaining, and driving DIEZ’s people-focused human resources strategy, as well as attracting, motivating, developing, and retaining the best talents available enabling DIEZA to become an employer of choice. In addition to that, Mr. Yousuf is also in charge of the organization’s transformational initiatives, which include organizational performance improvement, ongoing research and development, and maximizing excellence and business development. Mr. Yousuf also oversees DIEZA’s partnerships and protocol operations.

Mr. Yousuf is a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) by the International Coaching Federation (ICF, USA) and a founding member of the Association for Coaching (AC, UK) in the GCC. Marshall Goldsmith has recognized him as a Certified Team Coach, and Certified Executive Coach from Singapore.

Previously, Mr. Yousuf has held key positions as Assistant Director General, People Growth and Strategy at the Dubai Airport Freezone and Director of the Planning and Statistics Department at the Dubai Health Authority in the past.

Mr. Yousuf graduated from the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom with a master’s degree in planning and policy and his dissertation was specialized in key human resources practices. He graduated from the H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Program for Leadership Development in addition to his undergraduate studies. He is also a member of the Dubai Plan 2021 and took part in the H.H. Sheikh Hamdan Student Coaching Program.

Badr Buhannad is the Director General of Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO), where he leads the strategic evolution of Dubai’s dedicated knowledge and innovation district. With over two decades of experience in corporate strategy, business services, and audit management, he is a proven strategic leader known for aligning long-term vision with operational execution, delivering measurable impact through C-level engagement, board reporting, and transformation initiatives.

Before assuming the role of Director General, Buhannad served as Deputy Director General of DSO and Chief Corporate Support Officer at Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DIEZ). In this dual capacity, he oversaw corporate functions and led the Authority’s digital transformation, driving enterprise technology upgrades, supply chain optimization, and business process redesign. He played a pivotal role in shaping DIEZ’s cluster-based development model while strengthening cross-functional alignment across strategic sectors.

At DSO, Buhannad has championed several major organizational shifts, including the launch of the 2021 Strategic Pillars, Smart City, Desired Society, Technology Hub, and Happiest People, framing a renewed purpose in line with the Dubai 2021 Plan. His leadership has also driven infrastructure modernization, end-to-end process reengineering, and a corporate culture reset focused on agility and impact.

His earlier roles include Chief Audit and Risk Officer at Dubai International Financial Centre Authority (DIFCA), where he established the internal audit and risk department. He has also held senior positions at Dubai World and the Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation, bringing a strong foundation in finance, operations, and governance.

In addition to his executive responsibilities, Buhannad contributes to Dubai’s national digital transformation efforts as a member of the Dubai Free Zone Council’s Digital Committee.

He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and a Higher Diploma in Accounting from the Higher Colleges of Technology, Dubai.

Dr. Juma Al Matrooshi is the Assistant Executive Chairman Investments & Partnerships at the Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DIEZ). In his current role, he is responsible for driving strategic investment initiatives and forging high-impact partnerships that contribute to Dubai’s economic diversification and long-term growth. He plays a key role in shaping DIEZ’s investment vision, overseeing portfolio performance, and aligning public-private collaborations with the emirate’s broader development goals.

At DIEZ, Dr. Al Matrooshi also aligns investments and partnerships with Dubai’s strategic priorities, including the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33) and the Urban Master Plan 2040. His leadership focuses on driving high-value investment opportunities, advancing emerging technologies, and strengthening ecosystem governance, positioning DIEZ’s zones as world-class destinations for startups, SMEs, and multinational corporations.

Previously, Dr. Al Matrooshi served as Director General of Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO), where he led the development, implementation, and communication of the organisation’s overarching strategy. He oversaw DSO’s leadership team, steered financial performance, and ensured the effective execution of operational plans in line with international best practices. Under his leadership, DSO advanced as a key driver of Dubai’s digital economy, innovation, and technology ecosystem.

Beyond his executive responsibilities, Dr. Al Matrooshi represents the Dubai Government at the general assemblies and committees. He serves as the Assistant to the Secretary General of the Dubai Free Zones Council, Board Member of the World Free Zones Organization and Oraseya Capital, and is a member of the UAE Economic Acceleration Unit. He has also previously contributed to the Ministry of Economy and Commerce’s Trademark Committee, the Dubai Marketing & Tourism Development Board, and the UAE Banking Institute’s Insurance Brokerage Committee.

Dr. Juma holds a Doctorate in General Management from Golden Gate University, San Francisco, California, and an MBA in Business Development from Western University, Michigan, USA.

Abdulrahman Basaeed is Chief Internal Audit and Enterprise Risk Management Officer.

His role is to lead in conducting operational, financial and compliance audit projects and special assignments in various business units in DIEZ; In addition to Directing and overseeing risk management activities.

Abdulrahman holds a Master of Science in Accounting and Finance from Napier University, Edinburgh, Scotland, where his Dissertation subject was: “Implementation of observations and recommendations of the Internal Audit Departments in selected government sectors in Dubai – obstacles and solutions”. He brings a wealth of experience, where he has (25) years’ experience in Internal Audit.

Other achievements include receiving Forbes Middle East Entrepreneur Award – Retail Sector in 2015; Awarded “Distinguished Team” for Dubai Government Excellence Program for the year of 2001; was selected candidate for Distinguished Financial Employee for Dubai Government Excellence Program for the year of 2000; and awarded as distinguished employee (Dubai Customs) for the year of 1999.

Abdulrahman is also a Member of the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA).