Join our event, ‘Made For Trade Live’ in London, held in partnership with IoD (The Institute of Directors), to find out how to easily set up, run, and expand your business in Dubai with DMCC.
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 international business district in 2025 with over 25,000 member companies from 180 countries, employing over 90,000 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.
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Global Editor-in-Chief & Managing Consultant,
Oxford Business Group
Oliver Cornock has many years of experience in high-growth emerging markets having worked in both the private and public sectors. From a background in project finance at HSBC Group, he went on to work with the British Ministry of Defence.
He joined Oxford Business Group in 2004, became Managing Editor for the Middle East in 2006 and was appointed Global Editor-in-Chief in December 2016. In this capacity Oliver oversees editorial output across all platforms, print and digital. Additionally, Oliver directs OBG’s Consultancy division.
Oliver writes frequently on developing economies and the Middle East – his professional and personal specialisation - and appears as a commentator on BBC, CNN, CNBC and other television and radio stations.
He is a frequent speaker at British universities and focuses on the dynamics of growth markets and their relationship with developed economies. In recent years themes of these lectures have included the economics of the Arab Spring, diversification in the Arabian Gulf, global trade patterns, digital disruption and sustainability in commodities based emerging markets.
Oliver has undertaken interviews with many prominent individuals, including an array of heads of state, ministers, Central Bankers and captains of industry. He is a familiar face as a speaker and a conference moderator around the world.
Oliver holds a Ba. (Hons) degree in Arabic with Middle Eastern & Islamic Studies from Durham University.
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Special Advisor International,
Institute of Directors
David engages with many organisations and companies each year. He is the Managing Director of Fortis Consulting London which has been active in UK and international business development projects since the founding of the company in 2010. During 2022/23 David was Master of the Worshipful Company of Glaziers in the City of London, an ancient Livery Company, first recorded in the 14th Century.
He is the Strategy Director for Medical Prime, a private Menopause clinic, in the City of London and often speaks about ‘how peri/menopause affects women, men and companies.’ Medical Prime is a corporate member of the London Chamber of Commerce & Industry.
David is Chair of the Board of Global Creative Education, which is focused on UK-China university relationships. His Non-Executive Directors roles include: Board Member Institute of Couriers; Board Member British Malaysian Society and Court Member Worshipful Company of Glaziers & Painters of Glass.
David is the Institute of Directors’ (IoD), Special Advisor International and a member of the IoD International Trade Group. He is a Fellow of the IoD and is the Immediate Past Chair of IoD London Region; before this he was Chair of IoD City of London.
David engages with members of the Central Government, Local Government, embassies and international trade organisations and business leaders, to discuss how to ‘drive up business performance’. He is a frequent participant at conferences contributing to a wide range of subjects, including innovation, entrepreneurship, business development and the need for effective communication between international business cultures.
He has been a speaker and event moderator in connection with many companies and organisations, including: ASEAN Business Council, Barclays, Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply, CMS, Corporation of London, Deloitte, Embassy of China, Embassy of Indonesia, Embassy of Switzerland, Eversheds, Grant Thornton, High Commission of Canada, High Commission of India, High Commission of Malaysia, HSBC, ICAEW, KPMG, Law Society, Level39, Linklaters, Norton Rose Fulbright, PwC, Standard Chartered, TechUK, Thai Institute of Directors, TheCityUK, Thomson Reuters, UKTI, Embassy of the USA, White & Case.
David is Chair of the International Trade Group of the British Malaysian Society, an Honorary Senior Visiting Fellow at Bayes Business School, Honorary Member of Hungarian British Business Alliance, a member of the Anglo-Thai Society, the British Chamber of Commerce Thailand, Aldgate Ward Club, Broad Street Ward Club, and a Vice President of Blackheath (Rugby) Football Club, the world’s oldest. He received an award from Women in Banking & Finance for his support of their work to bring a gender lens to UK financial services.
Senior Director - Tech Ecosystems,
DMCC
Belal Jassoma is Director of 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.
