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.

Sherzod Abdulkasimov

Regional Partner & Managing Director,
PraeLegal Uzbekistan

Sherzod, with 15+ years of experience, excels in business strategy, arbitration, foreign judgments, construction consulting, mergers and acquisitions, and cryptocurrency investigations. He represents clients in arbitrations, enforces foreign decisions, facilitates M&A deals, and offers regulatory advice on cryptocurrencies within the jurisdiction of Uzbekistan.

He is particularly renowned for successful representation of clients at international arbitrations and providing finest tailored strategies in the corporate world.

A member of the advisory committee of PraeLegal International (since 2013).

Speaks English, Russian and Uzbek.

MIRZAAZIZ RUZIEV

Partner,
PraeLegal Uzbekistan

Mirzaaziz has more than 10 years in the banking and financial sector, providing legal services to foreign/international financiers in their relations with local borrowers.

Experienced in complex projects syndicated loans with the provision of various types of collateral, such as pledge/mortgage, surety and government guarantees. This experience also extends to both conventional financing projects based on Western models and alternative financing systems, including Islamic financing.

Bassel

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.