Join our event, ‘Made For Trade Live’ in Bay Area, held in partnership with Airtifae and Bay Area Council to find out how to easily set up, run, and expand your business in Dubai with DMCC – the world’s #1 free zone.
A global hub for innovation, growth, and trade – Dubai’s attractive policies, proximity to surrounding markets, centralized time zone, lifestyle and business opportunities make it one of the world’s best destinations to do business. Ideally located in the heart of Dubai, DMCC’s award winning community offers businesses easy access to industry-specific ecosystems, world-class infrastructure, bespoke services and exclusive networking events to support your success.
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Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer,
DMCC
Ahmed Bin Sulayem is the Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of DMCC and has driven its growth from a start-up of 28 member companies in 2003 to the world’s leading free zone in 2023 with 24,000+ member companies from 180 countries, employing over 80,000 people.
Tasked with enhancing commodity trade flows through Dubai, DMCC has introduced to the market a number of value-added products and services under Mr Bin Sulayem’s leadership. In 2023, DMCC has been named the ‘Global Free Zone of the Year’ by The Financial Times fDi Magazine, for a record ninth consecutive year.
Mr Bin Sulayem oversaw the exponential growth of the DMCC Free Zone master development in Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT), a 200-hectare business and residential community in Dubai of over 100,000 people living and working across 87 towers. Mr Bin Sulayem also oversees the development of DMCC’s latest real estate project; the much-anticipated Uptown Dubai district.
Mr Bin Sulayem currently serves as the Chairman of the Dubai Diamond Exchange (DDE) and the Dubai Gold & Commodities Exchange (DGCX).
The Kimberley Process officially appointed the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as the first and only Arab country to Chair the Kimberley Process in November 2015. Shortly after, the UAE Ministry of Economy officially appointed Mr Bin Sulayem as the UAE’s Chair of the Kimberley Process for 2016.
Senior Director,
Bay Area Council Economic Institute
Sean Randolph is Senior Director of the Bay Area Council Economic Institute, a public-private partnership of business, labor, government and higher education that works to foster a competitive economy in California and the San Francisco Bay Area, including San Francisco, Oakland and Silicon Valley. The Economic Institute produces authoritative analyses on economic policy issues affecting the region and the state, including infrastructure, globalization, energy, science, and governance, and mobilizes California and Bay Area leaders around targeted policy initiatives.
Dr. Randolph previously served as President & CEO of the Bay Area Economic Forum, which merged with the Bay Area Council in January 2008, and as director of international trade for the State of California, where he developed trade strategy and directed international business programs to stimulate exports and introduce California companies to overseas markets. Before service with the state, he was Managing Director of the RSR Pacific Group, an international business consulting firm specializing in Asia and Latin America, and before that served as International Director General of the Pacific Basin Economic Council, a 15-nation international organization of leading U.S., Asian and Latin American corporations. His professional career includes extensive experience in the U.S. Government, including the U.S. Congress staff, and the White House staff.
From 1981–85 he served in the U.S. State Department, as officer for Asia on the Policy Planning Staff, as Special Adviser for Policy in the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, and as Deputy/Ambassador-at Large for Pacific Basin affairs. From 1985–88 he served as U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Energy for International Affairs, managing nuclear non-proliferation, energy research, and global oil and gas issues. Dr. Randolph holds a JD from the Georgetown University Law Center, a Ph.D. from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy (Tufts and Harvard Universities), a B.S.F.S. from Georgetown’s School of Foreign Service, and studied at the London School of Economics.
He currently serves on the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC), which he chaired from 2005–2012, and on the State of California’s Public Infrastructure Advisory Commission (PIAC). He is a member of the District of Columbia Bar Association, the Council on Foreign Relations and the Pacific Council on International Policy, and serves on the Advisory Board of the University of San Francisco Center for the Pacific Rim, and the President’s Advisory Council of Excelsior College (New York). Dr. Randolph speaks frequently before business, government and university audiences, and writes for U.S. and international media on global, national, state and regional economic and policy issues.
President & CEO,
Airtifae Group
Andrés O. Hayes is the President and CEO of the Airtifae Group an organization that was created to assist local, regional, and international entities to elevate their international presence and level of service. Most recently, he served as Director for International Trade and Commerce in the Government of the District of Columbia from 2019-2022 and was responsible for attracting foreign direct investment into Washington, DC, strengthening relationships with countries who have expressed interest in investing in DC and want to expand further, increasing exports from small- and medium-sized businesses in the District to other countries, and planning for and carrying out the Mayor’s international trade missions. He is credited
with creating and executing the first-ever International Business Strategy for the City and as a result, positioned DC as a hub in the United States for international business and supported dozens of businesses expanding operations to DC. With citizenship in the United States and residency in the UAE, Andres has forged deep relations for Foreign Direct Investment and strategic relations.
Andres Hayes has 25 years of experience in Banking and Hospitality, most of them in the Credit Card Business where he worked for Visa International for 11 years: 7 years in Miami, Florida and 4 years in London, England. As one of the youngest Regional Managers, Mr. Hayes was selected to open the new Operations Center for Central Europe Middle East, and Africa in 1994. After his time with Visa International, he managed two major Card Operations Centers in the Americas and Europe as Senior Vice President. Additionally, he was the Restaurant Manager for B. Smith’s in Washington DC for 4 years and General Manager for The Mansion on O Street for 2 years. Afterward, he opened AH Consulting Firm, a hospitality and tourism firm, as President and CEO.
Hayes is extremely active in the DC community where he served as a board member of the DC Chamber of Commerce, The Greater Washington Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Advisory Board of Carlos Rosario International Charter School Culinary Program, and Raised funds for the Greater Washington Area Covenant House. He is a past President of Skål International Washington DC and current Director of the International Board. Skål is an international organization of Tourism Professionals. He is also a Board Member of Education for Sharing. An international non-profit organization that forms better global citizens through innovative education based on the power of play.
Co-Founder,
Apollo AIS
Kathrina Miranda is the Co-Founder of Apollo AIS and an advisor based in both the San Francisco Bay Area and New York City, where she specializes in assisting U.S. companies with their expansion into the Middle East through "AstroLabs". As a professor of entrepreneurship, she mentors emerging professionals, aiding in their career growth and future business endeavors. With over a decade of experience in marketing, Kathrina founded MiMA LLC in 2012, offering consultancy to startup entrepreneurs around the globe. In 2023, she enhanced client services through a strategic merger with Apollo AIS.
Kathrina is also a passionate advocate for workforce development, making a significant impact by supporting thousands of individuals from underserved communities. She builds strategic partnerships with local businesses, non-profits, and educational institutions, creating pathways to success for these participants. Her initiatives include organizing impactful community events that connect community members with essential resources, job opportunities, and mentorship, empowering them to achieve their full potential.
Senior Manager, Corporate Sales - Americas & Oceania,
DMCC
Mohammed Ibrahim Mohammed is a Senior Manager of Corporate Sales at DMCC, the world’s leading Free Zone and Government of Dubai Authority on commodities trade and enterprise.
Joining DMCC in 2014, Mohammed is responsible for promoting the benefits of doing business in Dubai and establishing a presence in DMCC. Building strategic relationships is a key focus for Mohammed, and so too is engaging with local and international business communities at key industry events throughout the year.
With over 16 years of business development and corporate sales experience, Mohammed has worked alongside a number of senior figures in both the public and private sectors of the United Arab Emirates. Mohammed earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from the American University in Emirates.
