Ahmed Bin Sulayem

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 26,000 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 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 (KP) in November 2015. Shortly after, the UAE Ministry of Economy appointed Mr Bin Sulayem as the UAE’s Chair of the KP for 2016. Mr Bin Sulayem was reappointed as Chair of the KP for a historic second term in 2024, and again in 2025 as Custodian Chair, marking an unprecedented third term.

Feng Xiao

Feng Xiao is the Vice President of MIE Events, an international exhibition group established in Dubai, UAE, in 2000. MIE is one of the earliest professional organizations dedicated to exhibition business in the Middle East and Africa. Over the past 26 years, the group has organized more than 100 industry exhibitions annually across the Middle East and Africa, and each year supports over 5,000 Chinese companies in expanding into the UAE and broader regional markets. To date, MIE has served more than 130,000 Chinese enterprises. MIE is also recognized as the first Chinese company to establish a presence in DMCC.

He joined MIE’s Shanghai subsidiary in 2006, initially serving as Head of Marketing, and later taking charge of overseas new market development before becoming Vice President of the group. Prior to joining MIE, the speaker worked as a computer science lecturer at a university in China.

With nearly 20 years of hands-on experience in the Middle East market, the speaker has worked closely with Chinese companies throughout their international expansion journey — from their first overseas trade show participation, to setting up local companies, and further to establishing factories and building long-term operations overseas. This experience has provided valuable insight into both the opportunities and common challenges faced by Chinese enterprises going global.

As a representative of one of the earliest Chinese companies established in DMCC, the speaker has also witnessed DMCC’s development from its early stages to its continuous growth and upgrading. This provides a unique perspective on DMCC’s strengths, the practical pathways for Chinese companies to establish themselves in Dubai and the wider Middle East, and the key considerations for successful international expansion.

Yanhui Chai

Miss. Yanhui Chai is currently the General Manager of the International Banking Dept. at Bank of Communications Shaanxi Branch. She previously served as Deputy General Manager, International Banking Dept. and Deputy Branch Manager at Nan Er Huan Sub-branch. She has extensive experience across corporate banking, international banking and cross-border financial services.

With extensive experience in corporate banking and particular expertise in cross-border investment and financing, Miss. Chai has developed a strong understanding of cross-border corporate development, international financial markets and integrated banking services. She has developed extensive experience in delivering tailored financial solutions to major clients and supporting the successful execution of large-scale projects. 

Ivy Zhang

Manager of the International Business Department at CCCC Tianhe, a subsidiary of CCCC. Vision: We build a better connected world, We make cities more livable, We create better life for people, we focus on fullchain overseas business covering infrastructure, energy and engineering equipment.

Salman Amiri

Salman Amiri serves as the Manager at DMCC’s AI Centre, the region’s leading hub for pragmatic Artificial Intelligence (AI) innovation.

Salman leads strategic operations at DMCC's AI and robotics innovation hub, where he drives the development of specialized services, programs, and partnerships that foster ecosystem growth. His work focuses on building strategic relationships with government stakeholders and industry leaders while championing AI adoption initiatives across the organization.

Before joining DMCC in October 2024, Salman was an Autonomous Robotics Researcher at the Technology Innovation Institute, where he specialized in guidance, navigation, and control systems. His background combines technical expertise in AI and robotics with operational leadership experience.

Salman holds a Master's degree in Intelligent Robotic Systems from the Universitat de Girona and a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Arizona State University. As an Emirati national, he is committed to advancing the UAE's position as a global hub for technological innovation.

Justin Li

Li Feng holds a Master of Laws (LL.M.) from Peking University and has over 20 years of legal and commercial experience across the Middle East and Africa. He is the Managing Partner of Sulaiman Al Naqbi Advocates & Legal Consultants in the UAE and Yingtian Law Firm in Saudi Arabia, Chief Representative of the DMCC China Representative Office, Chief Representative of the Legal Liaison Centre of the Shenzhen CCPIT UAE Economic & Trade Liaison Office, and President of the Hubei Chamber of Commerce in the UAE.

Previously serving as Huawei’s Head of Overseas Legal Affairs for the Middle East and North Africa, Mr. Li specialises in cross-border investment, corporate governance, dispute resolution and regulatory compliance. He has advised numerous Chinese enterprises on their international expansion strategies and continues to promote legal cooperation, investment and business exchange between China and the UAE. He also serves as an Overseas Member of the 13th Hubei Provincial CPPCC.

Shanshan DU

Shanshan Du is a cross-border business development professional with extensive experience in facilitating China–UAE business engagement and supporting Chinese companies in their international expansion. She currently serves as a Business Representative of the DMCC China Representative Office, Director of External Relations at Yingtian Global, and Business Representative of CCPIT Shenzhen.

Based in Dubai, Shanshan works closely with Chinese enterprises, government bodies, business associations and industry partners to facilitate market entry, corporate establishment, local partnership development and broader business cooperation in the UAE. Her work spans a wide range of sectors, including technology, energy, industrial manufacturing, consumer goods and professional services. She is also actively involved in business delegations, roadshows, government engagement and industry events connecting China with the UAE and the wider Middle East.

Prior to her current roles, Shanshan worked in international business and market development with Zonamerica, an international free zone headquartered in Uruguay, and China Medical System Holdings. Her professional experience across China, Latin America and the Middle East has given her a strong understanding of cross-border market entry, international business development and the practical challenges companies face when expanding into overseas markets.

Yiling Gui

Yiling Gui serves as Regional Representative of the Far East at DMCC, where she plays a central role in advancing the organisation’s global business development strategy and strengthening partnerships that attract high-value enterprises to Dubai. Her work focuses on expanding DMCC’s diverse member base across sectors such as technology, finance, and high-growth markets.

Before joining DMCC, Yiling held senior roles at leading global institutions including Samsung, Morgan Stanley, IDG Capital, and CICC. Her career spans digital marketing, platform innovation, start-up incubation, and fintech strategy, with a strong track record in fintech acceleration, AI adoption, and government partnership development. She has led cross-border projects across key international markets including China, Hong Kong, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Germany, and Canada.

Yiling holds a Master’s degree in Economics from The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK).