Corporate Governance

Abdullah Al Hameli is the Chief Executive Officer of the Economic Cities & Free Zones Cluster , holding more than 15 years of experience in different industries, including Human Resources and Administration, Maritime Trade, Finance and Corporate Operations and Services.

Prior to his current role, Abdullah Al Hameli served as Acting Executive Director of the Finance and Administration Affairs Sector, and as Advisor to the Chairman of the DMT. Prior to joining the DMT, he was the Acting CEO of ADT.

In his previous roles within AD Ports Group , Abdullah Al Hameli also served as Vice President - Human Resources & Emiratisation. He has also worked in the Human Resources and General Services sector at IRSHAD. Abdullah Al Hameli holds a bachelor's degree in Economics from Portland State University, USA, and a master's degree in Strategic and Security Studies from the UAE National Defense College.

Captain Maktoum Al Houqani is the Chief Executive Officer of the Maritime Cluster. He has held a number of positions aboard vessels, including oil tankers and LNG carriers.

He has worked in petroleum ports, first as tug master then later as a pilot and gained experience in the offshore industry as supervisor on a major reclamation project for the construction of artificial islands. In 2015, Captain Al Houqani joined the Company as Chief Marine Services Officer and took charge of the then newly formed SAFEEN.

He temporarily assumed charge of the Abu Dhabi Maritime sector at the DMT in 2018, before returning to the Company as the Executive Vice President for the Corporate Authority. Prior to joining the Group , he held the position of Senior Vice President for Operations at one of ADNOC's subsidiaries, IRSHAD.

In 2009, Captain Al Houqani obtained his master's degree in Maritime Studies from the Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security (ANCORS) at the University of Wollongong, Australia.

Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi is the Managing Director and AD Ports Group CEO, the region’s premier facilitator of logistics, industry, and trade, linking Abu Dhabi to the world.

In his role, he oversees the development of AD Ports Group’ portfolio of assets and activities as well as directs their strategy and operations. Under his leadership, AD Ports Group transitioned from a project-focused organisation to a fully operational, integrated business across 5 clusters – Digital, Economic Cities & Free Zones, Logistics, Maritime, and Ports – connecting global maritime routes and international trading partners has been a remarkable success.

A strong, determined and entrepreneurial leader, Captain Al Shamisi is an experienced maritime executive with almost 20 years of industry experience.

He leads the Group in accelerating the leadership’s vision of elevating into a diversified, knowledge-based, sustainable and innovation-focused economy.

Al Shamisi joined AD Ports Group in 2008 and held key leadership positions within its portfolio, which include the Executive Vice President for the company’s Ports Unit, where he was instrumental in restructuring this unit and rationalising its assets.

He also oversaw the completion and commissioning of the first phase of flagship port, Khalifa Port and adjacent KIZAD.

During his management, AD Ports Group has won more than 40 prestigious local and international awards, including five categories of Abu Dhabi Award for Excellence in Government Performance 2017 which granted the company the Main Award. In addition to serving as Managing Director and GCEO at AD Ports Group, Captain Al Shamisi is the Chairman of Aramex and Chairman of Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Company (ADNEC), the Vice Chairman of UAE Sailing & Rowing Federation, and is also a Board Member of MAKE A WISH Foundation UAE. He is currently the Chairman of KIZAD Board of Directors and the Chairman of the Arab Sea Port Federation.

He previously served as a Board Member of Etihad Airways. Captain Al Shamisi holds an MBA, an advanced Diploma of Applied Science (shipmaster) and a Graduate Certificate of Management from the University of Tasmania, Australia.

Amongst his numerous personal accolades, Captain Al Shamisi was awarded the Peter Morris Prize from the Australian Maritime College’s (AMC) for his significant contributions to the maritime industry, as well as the AMC Baird Publication Prize for Best Performance in Navigation Studies, He is also the recipient of the Sheikh Rashid Award for Academic Excellence. In 2012, he was named Young Personality of the Year at the Seatrade Middle East and Indian Subcontinent Awards has been ranked number 1 in the Logistics News Middle East CEO Power List in 2018, 2020 and 2021.

Captain Al Shamisi has been recently selected by Forbes as one of the top CEOs in the Middle East.

Dr. Noura Al Dhaheri is the Chief Executive Officer of the Digital Cluster and CEO – Maqta Gateway.

She has led Maqta Gateway from its establishment in 2014. Dr. Al Dhaheri is committed to social, environmental, technological and educational programmes.

She serves as Vice President of the Emirates Digital Women Association.

Dr. Noura also served as Chairwoman of the Group’s first Women Committee from 2016 through 2018. 

Dr. Al Dhaheri holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Software Engineering from the UAE University and a Master of Science degree in Engineering Systems and Management as well as a PhD in Interdisciplinary Engineering from Masdar Institute and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA.

Emil Pellicer has more than 23 years of experience in the legal profession.

Emil Pellicer sits on the boards of several of the Company's subsidiaries and joint ventures, including KIZAD, MICCO and Abu Dhabi Ports Operating and Logistic Company, LLC.

Prior to joining the Company, Emil Pellicer spent seven years (2003 – 2010) as a full-time counsel for Allen & Overy LLP with a focus on infrastructure projects in the MENA region across a wide variety of sectors, including ports, oil and gas and utilities.

From 1998 – 2003, Emil Pellicer was based in Toronto Canada, working as an associate for Torys LLP. 

Emil Pellicer holds Joint Honours bachelor's and master's degrees in Political Science and a Bachelor of Law and Bachelor of Civil Law degree from McGill University, Canada. He is a member of the Law Society of Ontario.

Martin Aarup is the Group Chief Financial Officer.

He has more than 20 years of international experience in senior management positions in various countries, industries and segment across B2B, B2C, as well as services and manufacturing companies.

Before joining the Group , Martin Aarup spent three years as Head of Global Finance Operations for the Marquard & Bahls Group based in Hamburg. Prior to this, from 2011 to 2016, he was the Group CFO of Oiltanking Group.

In his early career, Martin Aarup started as a management trainee in Nordea, before joining A.P. Moller – Maersk, where he worked in various finance management and leadership roles, primarily in Asia Pacific over a 10-year period.

Martin Aarup graduated from Copenhagen Business School in Denmark with a double major in Economics and Business Administration Degree as well as Finance and Credit. Additionally, he has completed several leadership programmes from institutions such as IMD in Switzerland.

Robert Sutton is the Chief Executive Officer of the Logistics Cluster.

He has more than 20 years of experience across traditional, multi-modal, and digital supply chains spanning the MENA region, Asia and Europe.

Robert Sutton has previously served as Vice President & Global Sector Head at DHL.

His primary area of focus is end-to-end supply chain strategies, change management and marketing/business development.

From 1981 to 1982 Robert Sutton attended Manchester College, where he was awarded a National & International Transport Management Certification.

Ross Thompson is the Group Chief Strategy and Growth Officer.

He joined the Company in 2016 as Vice President of Commercial and Business Development in the Ports Cluster and was appointed to t his current role in January 2017.

During his career, Ross Thompson has worked for leading international companies in the maritime industry, such as the Peel Ports Group and American President Lines.

Ross Thompson has a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Business and Languages from Plymouth University, UK.

He also has an Executive Management Diploma from Singapore Management University and an Executive Diploma in Maritime Economics and Supply Chain from Erasmus University in Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

Saif Al Mazrouei is the Chief Executive Officer of the Ports Cluster and has over 20 years of experience in ports and across the shipping and retail industries.

Prior to his current role, Saif Al Mazrouei was Chief Operating Officer at Khalifa Port Container Terminal. Before that he worked at ADT as Execution Manager.

Before joining ADT, he also served as a Board member and Community Relations and Communications Director at Al Habtoor Group and before that he worked in various roles at Union Cooperative Society and DP World.

Saif Al Mazrouei holds a Bachelor of Science degree and a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in Geography from Beirut Arab University, Lebanon.