Ahmed Bin Sulayem

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 international business district in 2025 with over 25,000 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 was named ‘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 in 87 towers. Mr Bin Sulayem also oversees the development of DMCC’s latest real estate project, the Uptown Dubai district.

Mr Bin Sulayem currently serves as the Chairman 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 (KP) in November 2015. Shortly after, the UAE Ministry of Economy officially appointed Mr Bin Sulayem as the UAE’s Chair of the KP for 2016. Mr Bin Sulayem was reappointed Chair of the KP for a historic second time in 2024, and has continued his leadership role with the position of Custodian Chair in 2025.

H.E. Mansoor Abulhoul

UAE Ambassador to the UK

His Excellency Mansoor Abulhoul has served as the United Arab Emirates’ Ambassador to the United Kingdom since June 2019.

With British and Emirati heritage, Ambassador Abulhoul represents the long-standing friendship between the two nations both personally and professionally. Educated in the UAE and Scotland, he later graduated from the University of Leeds before beginning his career in finance in Dubai and London. He subsequently returned to the UAE to help lead his family’s business group, deepening his experience across sectors central to the UAE’s modern economy.

Since his appointment to London, Ambassador Abulhoul has worked to strengthen and modernise the UAE–UK relationship across the political, economic, cultural, and educational spheres. Under his tenure, the two nations launched the Partnership for the Future, a framework for cooperation in an era of shared challenges and opportunities. In September 2021, he oversaw the signing of the UAE–UK Sovereign Investment Partnership (SIP), through which the UAE committed £10 billion to UK sectors including life sciences, energy transition, technology, and infrastructure. The SIP has since more than tripled its deployed capital, reinforcing the partnership’s role as a cornerstone of the bilateral relationship.

Today, annual trade between the UAE and UK stands at nearly £25 billion, making the UAE the UK’s largest trading partner in the GCC and its 19th largest worldwide. The two nations have also cooperated closely on major global initiatives, from the Abraham Accords—signed by the UAE in 2020—to the UK’s participation in Expo 2020 Dubai and COP28, underscoring a shared commitment to diplomacy, innovation, and climate action.

Beyond his official duties, Ambassador Abulhoul is known for his ‘cycle diplomacy’ initiative — a project combining sport, outreach, and cultural exchange. By cycling, in stages, from John o’ Groats to Land’s End, he has engaged communities across the UK, using his passion for cycling to meet, listen, and learn from people across all walks of life.

Ambassador Abulhoul and his wife, Victoria, who is French, share a keen interest in horseracing — the passion through which they met. They live in London with their young son and daughter.

David Stringer-Lamarre

Special Advisor International,
Institute of Directors

Andrew Lambert

Chair,
IoD International Trade Special Interest Group

Andrew Lambert CEng FIET MIoD is the Founder and CEO of Electronic Media Services Ltd (EMS) and Founder and COO of Fibre Ltd. He also chairs the IoD International Trade Special Interest Group.

Andrew is a Founder of Fibre Ltd a telecoms company that installs full-fibre broadband to new housing developments.

Dario Acconci

Head of Middle East and Asia,
Hawksford

Dario Acconci is Head of Middle East and Asia at Hawksford, where he oversees the strategic direction of the firm’s regional offices and advises international businesses on expansion across Asia and the GCC. Based between Singapore and Dubai, Dario has over two decades of experience supporting foreign investment into China, Southeast Asia and the GCC, with a background in corporate and commercial law.

He began his career in Hong Kong in 2003 and joined Hawksford following the successful growth and merger in 2018 of the regional corporate services firm he co founded. Dario works closely with multinational businesses to structure and establish operations across Asia and the Middle East, drawing on deep regional knowledge and extensive cross border experience.

Belal Jassoma

Senior Director - Tech Ecosystems,
DMCC

Belal Jassoma is the Senior Director of Tech Ecosystems at DMCC, the world’s leading business district and authority on international commodities trade and enterprise.

Belal joined DMCC in 2011 and has been instrumental in scaling up DMCC’s ecosystems and commercial offering, including new products, services and member engagement programmes. In his current capacity as Director for Ecosystems, Belal is responsible for developing key strategic relationships, partnerships and product functions as well as overseeing ecosystem development across several of DMCC’s industry verticals such as crypto, gaming, AI, energy and financial services.

Belal holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the American University of Sharjah and brings over 18 years of experience in real estate, investment, and government administration.

Matt Ong

Founder & CEO,
Ctrl Alt

Mohammed Mohammed

Senior Manager - Corporate Sales,
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.