Ahmed Bin Sulayem

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 over 24,000 member companies from 180 countries, employing over 65,000 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 was named the ‘Global Free Zone of the Year’ by The Financial Times fDi Magazine, for a record nine consecutive years.

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 in 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.

Lord Udny-Lister

Lord Udny-Lister has been UK Co-Chair of the UAE-UK Business Council since 2020.

Prior to this he was Chief Strategic Advisor to Prime Minister Boris Johnson, and the Prime Minister’s Special Envoy to the Gulf Region.

Lord Udny-Lister has had a lengthy career in Local Government, including as Deputy Mayor for Policy and Planning at City Hall, the seat of London’s Government, and Leader of Wandsworth Council. He served as Chief of Staff to the Mayor of London from 2011-16. He has a considerable background in facilitating large-scale urban regeneration schemes and coordinating major public and private sector partnerships. He also served as Chairman of London and Partners, as a Non-Executive Director at the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office and as Chairman of Homes England.

In 2021 Lord Udny-Lister was appointed Privy Councillor to HM The Queen. He is also currently a Senior Adviser to HSBC, a Director at Covent Garden Market and a Governor at the Museum of London.

Bandar Reda

Mr Bandar Ali Reda joined the Arab British Chamber of Commerce, on 1st March 2019, as Secretary General and CEO, becoming the fourth person to lead the Chamber since its foundation almost five decades ago.

As CEO, Mr Reda contributes his expertise by drawing on his wealth of experience as a diplomat and extensive time spent in the private sector to ensure the Chamber moves to the next level.

Mr Reda has a distinguished professional career of more than a decade in banking and corporate industry at SABB HSBC Saudi Arabia, prior to senior positions in the diplomatic service of his country, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where he served as Commercial Attaché in the UK & Europe, based in London, and in Italy and as part of the Saudi delegation to the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) in Paris.

Mr Reda holds a BA in Economics and Business Administration from Orlando, USA. He has been an Executive Member of the Saudi-Italian Business Council, the Council of Saudi Chambers; a Member of the Business Youth Committee, Jeddah Chamber of Commerce; a Member of the Saudi Economy Association; and a Member of the Saudi Arabian legal accountants. Mr Reda has demonstrated his experience and abilities in his roles in both public and private sectors.

Since taking up his post, Mr Reda has successfully steered the Chamber throughout the difficult months of the pandemic and lockdown, a period which presented unprecedented challenges for international trade and the business community. Under Mr Bandar Reda’s guidance and leadership, the Chamber not only continued all its activities uninterrupted but extended its services during this period and has reinforced its reputation as the leading strategic business services organisation in the UK dedicated to strengthening Arab-British trade and building closer business co-operation.

Mansoor Almansoori

Mansoor Almansoori has served as Head of the Economic Affairs Section at the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates to the United Kingdom since June 2023.

In his role at the Embassy, Mansoor oversees the UAE-UK economic relationship and works to enhance bilateral trade and investment ties between the two countries.

Prior to his UK posting, Mansoor served as Head of the European Economic Affairs Section at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abu Dhabi.

Mansoor undertook postgraduate studies at the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy in Abu Dhabi, earning a Post-Graduate Diploma in UAE Diplomacy and International Relations. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Hertfordshire and completed the International Foundation Programme in Humanities and Social Sciences at Queen Mary University of London.

Khozama Al Saadi

Khozama Al Saadi is Senior Manager in Corporate Sales, Free Zone at DMCC, where she is responsible for operations in Western Europe and Türkiye. She brings a decade of expertise in fostering strategic partnerships, relationships and alliances notably with governments and prominent industry stakeholders.

Prior to joining DMCC, Khozama worked for Dubai Chambers in the Investment Attraction division and has experience in Corporate Sales for Jumeirah Group and Mashreq Bank.

Khozama holds a Bachelor in Business Administration and Management from the American University of Dubai.