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 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.

Zulfiya Khalilova

Founder,
Classic Advisory LLC

Zulfiya Khalilova brings over 15 years of diverse experience as a professional and entrepreneur across various industries in Azerbaijan and the United Arab Emirates. Based in the UAE since 2014, she has worked with major multinational corporations in the oil & gas, energy, and trading sectors.

Before founding Classic Advisory in 2024, Zulfiya served as a senior consultant with various UAE-based consulting firms, providing corporate support services focusing on CIS countries. Her deep expertise in the UAE’s legal, regulatory, and licensing requirements, combined with her ability to deliver tailored business solutions, has successfully incorporated over a hundred companies in the UAE.

Ali Hajizade

Founder and Head,
Hajizade Group

Mr. Ali Hajizade is the founder and head of PR firms in Azerbaijan and the United States. His flagship company, Hajizade Group, is a leading public relations firm based in Baku, Azerbaijan. Since its establishment in 2012, Hajizade Group has provided comprehensive communication services across Azerbaijan, Turkey, and several other post-Soviet countries. In 2023, the company was recognized as the largest PR firm in Azerbaijan.

Elshan Rahman

Executive Director,
Aracon Legal and Tax Consulting FZ LLE 

Elshan Rahman is a distinguished legal professional with over a decade of experience, currently serving as the Executive Director at Aracon Legal and Tax Consulting FZ LLE. With an impressive track record spanning 14 years, Elshan specializes in providing comprehensive legal solutions across a broad spectrum of fields, including taxes, corporate law, M&A, employment, migration, customs, dispute resolution, and banking & finance. His proficiency extends to arbitration, litigation, mediation, and regulatory compliance, alongside expert knowledge in contract negotiation and a host of industry-specific regulations covering oil & gas, FMCG, and pharmaceutical sectors.

Bassel Bitar

Senior Manager, Corporate Sales – Asia and Eastern Europe,
DMCC

Bassel Bitar is the Senior Manager, Corporate Sales – Asia and Eastern Europe 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.