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. Saeed Thani Hareb Juma Al Dhaheri

Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to the Republic of Türkiye,
UAE Embassy in Ankara

Şekib Avdagiç

President,
Istanbul Chamber of Commerce

Şekib Avdagiç was born in 1959 in Zenica (Bosnia and Herzegovina). He started his primary education in Cologne (Germany) and continued his schooling in Istanbul. He graduated from Istanbul Technical University, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering in 1982 and completed the Istanbul University Business Administration Programme with honours in 1988.

He serves as Chairman of the Board and as the General Manager in a family business operating in the automotive supply industry. Mr. Avdagiç speaks English and Bosnian. He is married and has two children.

In April 2018, Şekib Avdagiç was elected as the President of the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (ICOC) Executive Board. As of May 31, 2023, he has been serving as the Vice President of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye.

Since September 2019, he serves as the Vice President of the Danube Chambers of Commerce Federation (DCCF). On July 11, 2023, he took over the duty of the Chairman of the Services Exporters’ Association. As of June 2024 he serves as Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors & Executive Committee.

Mr. Avdagiç was one of the 12 founding members of The Independent Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association and took charge as the Association’s Vice President until 2000.

In 1995 he was elected as a Member of the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (ICOC) Assembly and between 2005-2009 he served as the Member of the ICOC Executive Board. From 2009 to 2013 he served as the Vice President of the ICOC Executive Board. He has been elected as the President of the ICOC Assembly in May 2013 and held this position until 2018.

Between 2009 and 2011, Mr. Avdagiç served as the President of the Executive Council of the Istanbul 2010 - European Capital of Culture Agency. From 2013 until 2019 he served as the Chairman of the Turkish Composites Manufacturers Association.

In addition to these duties, Mr. Avdagiç serves as the Chairman of The Start-up Center of Istanbul, The Istanbul Chamber of Commerce Education and Social Services Foundation, The Tourism Development and Education Foundation. He is also the Vice President of the Board of Technopark Istanbul and The Istanbul World Trade Center and Board Member of The Foreign Economic Relations Board of Türkiye, The Istanbul Development Agency and The Association of Automotive Parts and Components Manufacturers. Mr. Avdagiç also serves as the Member of the Board of Trustees of The International University of Sarajevo, The Prof. Fuat Sezgin Research Foundation for the History of Science in Islam and The Istanbul Technical University Development Foundation.

Onur Şaylan

Consul General of the Republic of Türkiye to Dubai

Fatma Nilgun Emrem

UAE Representative of the World Turkish Business Council (DTIK)

Fatma Nilgun Emrem has a career history across multi disciplines and sectors from Banking, Textile and Construction which provided a natural appreciation of different sectors and organizational structures and managing skills to transfer to the consulting field. Her experience in markets extend from Türkiye, United Arab Emirates, GCC, Middle East, United Kingdom, Baltic Region and Africa.

In 2010, established Tamimi Consulting with Tarik Tamimi to extend her knowledge and experience to those investors looking for opportunities in the GCC region. Since its inception Tamimi Consulting has successfully incorporated more than 900 companies in the U.A.E. and continue to be the leading company among Turkish Investors especially. Tamimi Consulting has been awarded 8 years in a row by DMCC Authority as the Top Performing Consulting Company in U.A.E. and awarded as the Best International Service Provider in 2020.

She is the U.A.E. Country Representative in Africa - Middle East - Gulf Region Committee in the World Turkish Business Councils (DTIK) under the Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK) of Türkiye.

She served as the President of Turkish Business Council in Dubai and Northern Emirates between 2019-2023.

Mehmet Ali Akarca

Chairman of DEIK Turkiye–UAE Business Council &
CEO, KoçSistem

Mehmet Ali Akarca is the General Manager of KoçSistem and Vice Chairman of KoçDigital. He previously held senior leadership roles at Bookinturkey.com, Koç.Net, Zer, and Türk Telekom Group. Akarca has been serving as General Manager of KoçSistem since 2017. He is a Board Member of TÜBİSAD and chairs the Türkiye-UAE Business Council while also serving on the Türkiye-Saudi Arabia Business Council. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Nottingham and a postgraduate degree in Marketing and Tourism from the University of Surrey. He is married with two children.

Tarik Tamimi

Executive Board Member,
DEIK Turkey – Uae Business Council

Tarik Tamimi has a diverse experience in various industries as a professional and entrepreneur in the United Arab Emirates, GCC, Middle East, Türkiye, UK, CIS Region and East Africa, operating out of UAE since 2005. Worked in large multi-national corporations in Oil & Gas, energy, construction, supply chain and logistics, and trading industries. Focused for setting up and managing challenging operations to create competitive commercial advantage for organizations across multi-disciplines.

Founded Tamimi Consulting in 2010, and established a cross border consulting firm with Fatma Nilgun Emrem to offer guidance to organizations, advise top executives, boards, and business owners with an aim of creating value and differentiation while evaluating a business from multiple perspectives such as commercial, administrative, compliance, banking, strategy, risk, marketing, and development. Tamimi Consulting offers tailored services in the field of management and business consultancy for companies of all sizes, sectors, and backgrounds with a unique approach for establishing and strategizing businesses.

Tamimi Consulting has successfully incorporated more than 900 companies in U.A.E. and continue to be the leading company among Turkish Investors especially. Tamimi Consulting has been awarded for the last 8 years in a row as the Top Performing Consulting Company in U.A.E. by the DMCC Authority and awarded as the Best International Service Provider in 2020.

Tarik Tamimi is a Founding Member of the Dubai Business Group for Professional and Business Services under Dubai Chambers, a Board Member of the Turkish Business Council in Dubai and Northern Emirates, and an active member of the Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK) of Türkiye.

Bassel Bitar

Senior Manager - Corporate Sales,
DMCC

Bassel Bitar is the Senior Manager, Corporate Sales at DMCC, the world’s leading Free Zone and Government of Dubai Authority on commodities trade and enterprise.

Joining DMCC as a Team Leader in 2015, Bassel is responsible for promoting the benefits of doing business in Dubai and setting up companies in DMCC.

Prior to joining DMCC, Bassel held senior sales positions at both Etisalat Telecom and Emirates NBD in Dubai.

Bassel earned a Bachelor of Business administration degree in Hotel Management and tourism from the National American University in 2002.