Leadership

His Excellency Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi

Chairman

His Excellency Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi is member of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED), the catalyst for economic growth in the emirate. In this role, H.E. is spearheading strategies and initiatives to further enhance the soaring, diversified, smart, and sustainable “Falcon Economy”.

A seasoned leader with a proven track record in delivering results, H.E. Al Zaabi has long-standing experience in the finance and investments sector, wherein he has managed and executed multi-billion-dollar investment transactions and led numerous restructurings and turnarounds across a multitude of sectors.

H.E. is also the Chairman of Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), the international financial centre located in the UAE capital and cementing Abu Dhabi’s status as a leading financial hub and “Capital of Capital”. At the helm of ADGM, H.E. has been playing a pioneering role in positioning Abu Dhabi as the gateway of opportunities for regional and international businesses and attracting them to operate and expand out of Abu Dhabi.

H.E. Al Zaabi is the Chairman of Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ADCCI), which is empowering businesses and enabling the private sector to reach its full potential within a competitive state-of-the-art ecosystem, and Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development (KFED), the socio-economic development entity encouraging entrepreneurship, innovation culture, and supporting the SMEs through highly targeted financing, services, and training initiatives and programmes.

H.E. Chairs the Board of Directors of Hub71, Abu Dhabi’s global tech ecosystem that enables building of globally enduring, homegrown tech companies by providing access to global markets, capital ecosystem, a global network of partners, and a vibrant community filled with highly skilled talent, and governed by forward-thinking regulation.

He is also the Chairman of Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council (QCC), which is leadingand developing an efficient, effective and globally integrated quality infrastructure in Abu Dhabi that promotes a culture of quality, enhances industrial development and competitiveness as well as consumer safety.

H.E. serves as a board member on multiple private sectors, government and commercial state-owned entities across the energy, investment, technology, real estate, and healthcare sectors. H.E. has also served on the boards of numerous banks and financial institutions in the past.

Prior to these roles, H.E. Ahmed Al Zaabi was the Group Chief Financial Officer (GCFO) of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and has held several leadership roles across multiple private and government related entities in finance and investments, transformation and turnarounds, strategy, and corporate governance.

H.E. Ahmed Al Zaabi started his career at the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) and held a senior management role in a privately-owned real estate company. H.E. held an executive leadership role to manage an Abu Dhabi government office that oversaw a multi-billion-dollar portfolio of commercial state-owned enterprises, wherein H.E. led the transformation and restructuring of a number of entities as the shareholder’s representative. H.E. also held an executive position to manage the central treasury of the Government of Abu Dhabi.

H.E. Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi holds a master’s degree in economics from the United Kingdom.

His Excellency Mohammed Ali Al Shorafa Al Hammadi

Vice Chairman

H.E. Mohamed Ali Al Shorafa is a member of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, Chairman of the Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT) since 2023, where he is leading a rapid and comprehensive transformation of the department at the direction of the UAE leadership. In his role as chairman of the DMT, Al Shorafa manages the urban planning and transport sectors, three municipalities and its affiliate entities including the Abu Dhabi Integrated Centre (ITC).

On November 2021, Al Shorafa was appointed as the Vice Chairman of Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), one of the world's leading international financial centres, where he spearheads efforts to progressing ADGM’s growth journey, strengthening the financial sector, attracting global companies and investments, and developing a vibrant business environment underpinned by innovation and a robust regulatory framework.

With a proven track record in leadership excellence, he previously served as the Chairman of the Department of Economic Development – Abu Dhabi from 2019, establishing a solid foundation for his current roles. Al Shorafa was the key driver in prioritising economic diversification to lead Abu Dhabi towards a more competitive, transparent, and collaborative ecosystem that is on par with the global economy. Through his involvement in various public and private organisations, Al Shorafa has made significant contributions to the economic growth and development of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. His remarkable achievements have garnered recognition, as he has been honoured as one of the world's most influential Arabs in both 2019 and 2021 by Arabian Business in collaboration with Bombardier.

Al Shorafa stands as an exemplary national figure, acknowledged for his exceptional accomplishments, professional acumen, and unwavering dedication to the UAE. His commitment is exemplified by his illustrious educational background and his deliberate choice to associate with institutions that align with his interests. He holds an MBA from the prestigious London Business School and certifications from esteemed international institutions such as MIT’s Sloan School of Management, Citibank Global Asset Management, and completion of the senior executive leadership program at Harvard Business School.

He currently holds several roles driving the economic growth and the prosperity of the Emirate, and these include Chairman of Abu Dhabi Housing Authority, Chairman of Etihad Aviation Group, Chairman of the Board of the Securities & Commodities Authority (SCA), and a board member of Etihad Rail and Abu Dhabi Transport Company.

Previously, Al Shorafa held the position of CEO and Managing Director of UEMedical. He also served as a board member of the Strategic Partnership Council of the Department of Health - Abu Dhabi, and as the chairman of the Healthcare Working Group of the UAE-UK Business Council. Additionally, he served as the Vice-Chairman of United Eastern Group (UEG) and Gulf Contractors Company (GCC). Prior to launching UEMedical, Al Shorafa spent nine years at the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA).

His Excellency Hisham Khalid Malak

Board Member

Dhaen Mohamed Al Hameli

Board Member

Khaled Abdulla Al Qubaisi

Board Member

Mansour Mohamed Al Mulla

Board Member

Kaj-Erik-Relander

Board Member

Hamad Sayah Al Mazrouei

CEO of ADGM Registration Authority

Hamad Sayah Al Mazrouei assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer of the ADGM Registration Authority (RA) in January 2023, marking another milestone in his distinguished career. In this capacity, he continues to be at the forefront of innovation, overseeing the registration processes for both financial and non-financial service entities, as well as real estate assets within ADGM’s jurisdiction. Hamad ensures strict adherence to ADGM’s commercial regulations while fostering an environment conducive to growth and compliance.

With an extensive history of leadership roles within ADGM, including his prior position as Chief Operating Officer, Hamad has been instrumental in shaping the organization’s strategic trajectory. His visionary leadership was particularly evident in spearheading the groundbreaking "OneADGM Project," aimed at streamlining customer experience and bolstering Abu Dhabi’s international financial standing.

As the founding member and Chairman of ADGM Academy, the knowledge arm of ADGM, Hamad plays a pivotal role in advancing UAE's national agenda on employability. Through strategic collaboration with financial and digital authorities, Hamad oversees governance committees dedicated to aligning local human capital development with the UAE's ambitious vision for 2030.

Drawing from over two decades of experience in strategic planning and business development across public and private sectors, Hamad possesses a comprehensive skill set. His expertise spans strategy formulation, systems optimisation, standards implementation, capacity building, and organizational enhancement, all geared towards achieving operational excellence.

Hamad actively contributes to fostering stronger ties between UAE and the UK as a member of the UAE-UK Partnership Consortium, working tirelessly to promote mutual interests and collaborations. Prior to his tenure at ADGM, he held prominent positions in The General Secretariat of the Executive Council and ADNOC/National Drilling Company.

A graduate in Business Management from Portland State University, Oregon, USA, Hamad furthered his academic pursuits with an MBA from the esteemed New York Institute. His dedication to professional excellence and unwavering commitment to advancing Abu Dhabi’s financial landscape continues to define his impactful career journey.

Emmanuel Givanakis

CEO of ADGM Financial Services Regulatory Authority

Emmanuel Givanakis is the Chief Executive Officer of the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) of Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), where he oversees the financial services regulatory framework that governs financial services activities within the ADGM.

Emmanuel joined ADGM in October 2014 as the Head of Policy & Legal, overseeing the establishment of ADGM’s legislative and regulatory framework, which was a pivotal step in the creation of ADGM as an international financial center.

His legal and financial services regulatory expertise as well as his management experience span over 30 years. Prior to joining ADGM, Emmanuel held a number of senior legal roles and leadership and management positions in both Australia and the UAE, including senior positions at the Dubai Financial Services Authority and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC).

His extensive knowledge and skills include legal, policy, regulatory risk and compliance (prudential and conduct of business) as well as corporate governance, which place him in a strong position to ensure the timely identification of risks and their mitigation.

Emmanuel holds a Bachelor of Laws from the Queensland University of Technology, as well as holding qualifications in Islamic Finance and a Graduate Diploma in Company Secretarial Practice (Governance Australia). He has been practicing law for over 30 years after being admitted to the Bar in Australia in 1994 (Queensland, New South Wales and the High Court of Australia).

In 2003, in recognition of his work at ASIC he was awarded the Australian Public Service Medal (National Australia Day Council Achievement Award).

The Right Honourable Lord David Hope of Craighead KT

Chief Justice of ADGM Courts

Salem Mohammed Al Darei

CEO of ADGM Authority

Salem Mohammed Al Darei has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of the ADGM Authority in July 2023. In his new role, Salem will be responsible for making major corporate decisions, managing overall operations, and setting the company's strategic direction where he drives ADGM’s growth by leveraging the trends emerging across the international financial services sector.

Salem is a distinguished business leader poised to greatly enhance ADGM's overarching objectives and contribute to the achievement of ADGM's vision to be one of the leading international financial centres on a global scale. Salem is bringing a wealth of international experience to ensure the continued provision of best-in-class services that continue to enable the development of ADGM.

Prior to joining ADGM, Salem was ADNOC Group’s Chief Legal Counsel, a member of ADNOC Executive Leadership Team and a board member across various ADNOC Group Companies. Over the course of his 22-year career, he has consistently demonstrated a remarkable ability to drive transformative change, build strong teams, and foster a culture of innovation and collaboration.

Salem holds a Master of Laws degree from the United Kingdom.

Linda Fitz-Alan

Registrar and Chief Executive of ADGM Courts

Linda Fitz-Alan joined ADGM Courts as Registrar and Chief Executive in September 2015. She leads the administration and operations of the Court, including both the management of cases and the design and delivery of the Court’s comprehensive digital services and unique eCourts Platform.

Since joining ADGM, Linda has helped to transform the global judicial landscape, making ADGM’s international commercial courts an international trailblazer for the innovative delivery of judicial services. As a result, ADGM Courts today enjoys a highly respected reputation amongst the global legal community with caseloads increasing significantly as more global parties select ADGM Courts in their contracts to resolve their disputes.

Linda has pioneered game-changing technology through the design of ADGM Courts’ unique ADGM eCourts Platform in 2018, which offers parties and their lawyers extraordinary access and connection to the Court, removing any geographical or time boundary and allowing parties to participate in hearings from anywhere in the world. This enabled the Court to seamlessly navigate the unprecedented impact on both the justice and legal sectors that arose from the global pandemic. She also established the world’s first fully digital ADGM Courtroom, giving all parties real-time access to the same documents and remote witness evidence.

Linda also leads ADGM’s progressive alternative dispute resolution services, framework and infrastructure, where she established MENA’s first state-of-the-art hearing facility, the ADGM Arbitration Centre, in 2018, and launched ADGM Courts’ court-annexed mediation scheme in 2019. Linda is strongly committed to ensuring mediation is recognised as an essential and effective means of dispute resolution, particularly for those disputes requiring innovative and collaborative solutions arising from the emerging areas of climate change and web3.

As a champion for gender equality, Linda serves on the Advisory Council of Masdar’s Women in Sustainability, Environment and Renewable Energy (WiSER) platform, providing strategic direction and guidance to enhance the participation of women in the sustainability industry. Linda also leads ADGM’s Gender Equality Initiative, which includes strategic partnerships with several local and international organisations including the United Nations, CFA Institute and US Embassy in the UAE.

Linda is also a driving force for CSR, particularly in sustainability in dispute resolution, pledging ADGM’s support to the Campaign for Greener Arbitrations and developing such groundbreaking initiatives as a blockchain solution for the enforcement of judgments and hosting mediation in the metaverse through a digital twin of the ADGM Arbitration Centre. She also launched ADGM’s Pro Bono Scheme to assist individuals who have limited financial means with access to legal advice.

Linda is a steadfast supporter of talent promotion in the legal industry and in building ties between the Australian and Abu Dhabi business communities.

Linda previously served as CEO and Principal Registrar of the Supreme Court of New South Wales, Australia, where she was responsible for: the successful implementation of the Court’s electronic filing and case management capability; the design, refurbishment and consolidation of the Court’s civil and criminal Registries; and the development of its human resources and training. She has been a Partner of two Australian law firms and held a senior legal position with a large commercial insurer located in New York, USA. Linda holds a Bachelor of Laws Degree from the University of Sydney, Australia. She is a CEDR accredited mediator.

In 2022 and 2023 respectively, Linda was listed in Forbes Middle East’s “50 Most Powerful Businesswomen” and Forbes Middle East's "100 Most Powerful Businesswomen 2023". In April 2023, Linda was listed in Arabian Business' "50 Inspiring Women Business Leaders", and she also received the Professional Achievement Award at the inaugural Middle East Women In Law Awards by LexisNexis, with both organisations recognising her instrumental efforts in the trailblazing digital transformation of the justice sector.

Dhaher bin Dhaher Al Mheiri

Advisor, Chairman's Office

Dhaher bin Dhaher Al Mheiri is appointed as Advisor to the Chairman, collaborating closely with His Excellency Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi, chairman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Development (ADDED) and Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM).

With a distinguished 23-year career in strategic business development, Al Mheiri’s expertise has been pivotal in shaping the financial free zone of Abu Dhabi. As the former CEO of ADGM Authority, he played a crucial role in driving organisational strategies and aligning the financial centre’s objectives with Abu Dhabi’s broader economic goals. His tenure at ADGM was marked by his leadership in the Registration Authority, where he was the CEO from its inception, setting high standards in business registration and licensing and fostering a progressive, business-friendly environment.

Before his significant contributions at ADGM, Al Mheiri held various positions at the Dubai International Financial Centre Authority, where he spent six years honing his skills in business strategy and development.

His professional journey began in his family business, where he initially focused on operations before transitioning to an advisory role and eventually becoming a Board Member. In these roles, he was instrumental in instituting family governance and restructuring the business, demonstrating his adeptness in operational and strategic aspects. He still oversees his family’s estate, ensuring its growth and sustainability across various sectors.

Dhaher holds a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from Suffolk University, Boston, USA, underpinning his extensive practical experience with a solid academic foundation.

Arvind Ramamurthy

Chief of Market Development

Arvind Ramamurthy is the Chief of Market Development at Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), the international financial center of the UAE’s capital.

Under his leadership, ADGM has emerged as one of the most coveted financial districts, his role is primarily responsible to drive ecosystem development, new business growth, customer journey and sustainable finance initiatives for ADGM. Arvind further exercises a key role in the implementation of ADGM’s cluster strategy and in the development of its vibrant ecosystem that can attract and enable new players to set up business in ADGM.

Additionally, Arvind is the Chief Financial Officer and a member of the investment committee at the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), an entity set up to focus on attracting investments and fostering economic growth in Abu Dhabi through innovation and business development within focus sectors. Arvind is also a board member on several Abu Dhabi entities.

During his 18 years of experience in strategic corporate finance across emerging markets, Arvind expert contributions included the execution of multiple projects such as complex transformations, restructuring activities, M&As and principal investments. Prior to joining ADGM, he held senior positions in different entities including ADNOC, Abu Dhabi Department of Finance, Abu Dhabi General Secretariat of the Executive Council and Deloitte.

Rajiv Sehgal

Chief Strategy Officer

Rajiv Sehgal, in his capacity as the Chief Strategy Officer of ADGM is responsible for development and execution of the overall corporate strategy of ADGM and the monitoring of ADGM’s overall performance against targets.

Prior to joining ADGM, Rajiv was Vice President - Internal Planning and Performance Management at Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and was responsible for leading the development and execution of the transformation strategy and the performance management framework for Group Finance & Investments.

Rajiv brings over 25 years of hands-on experience in areas of strategy & performance management, corporate governance, business and operational transformation, working with blue chip organizations across varied sectors. Rajiv has in-depth knowledge of the GCC Region having worked in the UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Oman on multi-disciplinary projects over the last 20 years with entities such as ADNOC, Abu Dhabi Department of Finance (DOF), Abu Dhabi General Secretariat of the Executive Council (ADGSEC), Ernst & Young (EY), National Bank of Abu Dhabi (NBAD) and Sama Dubai.

In addition to his role of CSO at ADGM, Rajiv also serves as a Board Member on the Abu Dhabi Global Market Academy and Numou.

Rajiv holds a Masters degree in Business Economics and a Bachelors degree in Commerce from India.

Eyad Mahadeen

Chief Legal Officer and Board Secretary

Eyad Mahadeen is the Chief Legal Officer and Board of Directors (“Board”) Secretary of ADGM and is heading the Office of Legal Affairs and Compliance. In his role as Chief Legal Officer, Eyad ensures that ADGM is operating within the applicable laws and regulations whilst supporting ADGM achieving its strategic objectives as a leading international financial centre.

As a Secretary of the Board, Eyad is responsible for facilitating the ADGM's corporate governance processes and holds primary responsibility for ensuring that the Board and Board Committees’ activities, processes and procedures run efficiently and effectively. Eyad joined ADGM in August 2015, having previously worked at the UAE Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation for four years and at Allen & Overy (Abu Dhabi) and Simmons & Simmons (London/Abu Dhabi) for nine years and previously at leading law firms in Jordan.

Eyad was instrumental in leading, alongside ADGM executive leadership, the negotiations with relevant government entities, which resulted in the issuance of amendments to the ADGM law. Eyad studied law at Amman University, Jordan, and is a holder of a master’s degree in commercial and corporate law from King’s College, University of London, UK. Eyad also holds a university Diploma in Nuclear Law from the International School of Nuclear Law, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France. He also has a B.Sc. in Business Administration and Political Science from University of Jordan. Eyad completed four leadership courses from London Business School, UK and the Harvard Law School, USA.

Eyad is a member of the Law Society of England and Wales and the Jordanian Bar Association and is a qualified lawyer within these jurisdictions.

Abdulla Al Suwaidi

Chief Support Services Officer

Abdulla AlSuwaidi serves as the Chief Support Services Officer at ADGM. Prior to this role, he held various key positions such as Human Capital Director and Procurement Director.

Abdulla brings extensive experience in formulating corporate service strategies and ensuring utmost customer excellence within the support services functions, including Human Capital, Technology Services, Procurement and General Services.

Having previously served as the Human Capital Director at ADGM, Abdulla will use his expertise to contribute to the success of the UAE’s national employability agenda and its various associated programs.

Mohammed Al Mheiri

Chief Communications Officer

Abdelhamid Abuhelweh

Director of Internal Audit