DP World's board of directors appoints Essa Kazim as chairman and Yuvraj Narayan as CEO.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, issued a decree appointing Abdullah bin Demaithan as Chairman of the Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation succeeding to Sultan Ahmed bin Salim.

Abdullah Bin Damithan has extensive professional experience in the ports, logistics and trade sector, where he oversees DP World’s operations in the GCC region, including ports, economic zones, maritime services and trade solutions.

Led the company’s strategies in key markets,

Bin Demaithan served as CEO and General Manager of DP World UAE, and throughout his career he led the company’s strategies in key markets, most notably the UAE, with a focus on developing commercial infrastructure and enhancing the efficiency and sustainability of supply chains. Appointed in July 2023 to oversee the region, Abdulla previously held the position of CEO & Managing Director of DP World UAE. Meanwhile Abdulla joined DP World in 2001 and has been an integral part of the company’s transformation from a port operator to a global smart trade enabler.

Abdulla leads the company’s business strategies in key GCC markets, including the United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. His focus is on delivering end-to-end solutions for cargo owners, building world-class trade infrastructure across ports, terminals and free zones, and driving greater supply chain efficiency, transparency, resilience and sustainability.

In the UAE, Abdulla leads DP World’s Jebel Ali Port, ranked among the largest container ports in the world, and  (JAFZA), the company’s flagship free zone and an essential part of the company’s integrated regional business model. This port connects over 180 shipping lines to more than 3.5 billion consumers while Jafza is home to more than 10700 businesses..

Governance system

The Board of Directors of DP World approved the appointment of Essa Kazim as Chairman of the Board and Yuvraj Narayan as Group Chief Executive Officer, as part of stre  ngthening the corporate governance and leadership system in the company.

Essa Kazim serves as Governor of the Dubai International Financial Centre and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Dubai Financial Market. He has over three decades of professional experience in the financial and economic sectors, during which he held leadership positions at the Central Bank of the UAE, the Dubai Department of Economic Development, and the Dubai Financial Market.

Yuvraj Narayan has extensive professional experience in the areas of financial management, corporate finance, supply chains and global trade. Since joining DP World in 2004, he has contributed to leading many strategic and transformative initiatives that have supported the expansion of the company’s business in 79 countries and strengthened its role as a global integrated provider of supply chain solutions.

Narayan has served as the Group’s Chief Financial Officer since 2005, and during his career he has led a number of initiatives that have contributed to strengthening the company’s financial performance and raising operational efficiency, thereby enhancing the company’s competitiveness in global markets.

The board of directors confirmed that the new appointments come within the framework of supporting DP World’s strategy for sustainable growth, enhancing its role in supporting global supply chains, and consolidating Dubai’s position as a major hub for trade and logistics.

Other Leadership Members

Abdulla Al Hashmi

Chief Operating Officer, Parks & Zones, DP World GCC

Abdulla Al Hashmi leads DP World’s Parks & Zones pillar in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region. In this role, he oversees key assets including Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza), Dubai Auto Zone (DAZ), National Industries Park (NIP), Dubai Maritime City, the re-development of Mina Rashid and Jafza Enterprises.Joining DP World’s commercial department in 2010, Abdulla has held numerous leadership roles, playing a key part in positioning the business as a global smart trade enabler.

With more than 16 years of experience in finance and commerce, Abdulla has spearheaded the execution of large-scale mergers, acquisitions and greenfield deals. As a senior member of the Corporate Finance and Business Development team, he also informed investment strategies to support the group’s transformation from a port operator to a global trade enabler.

Abdulla previously held the position of Vice President of Business Intelligence, where he was responsible for implementing a data-driven approach to addressing supply chain disruptions, supporting DP World’s business growth and enhancing the trade competitiveness of Jebel Ali and Dubai.A seasoned industry professional, Abdulla serves as Director on several DP World boards and other entities.

Shehab Mohamad Aljasmi

Chief Commercial Officer, Ports & Terminals, DP World GCC

Shehab Aljasmi is the Chief Commercial Officer, Ports & Terminals Commercial at DP World GCC, a global provider of end-to-end supply chain logistics. He is responsible for leading the commercial strategy for DP World ports across the region.In his previous role as SVP, Ports & Terminals – Commercial, he led the core commercial operations at Jebel Ali Port, covering container terminals and general cargo i.e. Ro-Ro, Bulk and Breakbulk as well as Customer Care and the overall terminal business portfolio.

Shehab joined DP World in 2010 and has extensive commercial expertise in managing strategic relationships with key customers across the shipping lines, general cargo and trader segments, with an extensive background in business development and real estate. He is responsible for delivering compelling value propositions, ensuring DP World’s credibility is always upheld in the UAE region with customers, and driving all Ports & Terminals Commercial project from conceptualisation to execution and completion.Prior to joining DP World, Shehab handled key commercial responsibilities in Dubai World Central, a strategic initiative of the Government of Dubai to support economic development, and Dubai Aluminium, one of the largest aluminium smelters in the world. 
Raveen Guliani

Chief Operating Officer, Logistics, DP World GCC

Raveen Guliani was appointed Chief Operating Officer Logistics for DP World GCC in August 2023, overseeing trade and logistics in the UAE and the wider Gulf region.Previously, Raveen was Vice President Trade Development & Logistics of DP World UAE with responsibility for logistics operations at Jebel Ali Port and the flagship free zone of Jafza  Since joining DP World in 2010, Raveen has held a number of senior leadership roles, heading up the Trade & Business Intelligence, Business Development, and Marketing & Communications functions.

 Raveen has more than 20 years of management and leadership experience across the logistics, shipping and maritime sectors, with proven expertise in developing trade and enabling efficient supply chain solutions. Prior to joining DP World, Raveen was the Regional Sales Manager at Dubai Maritime City, with responsibility for sales and business development in Asia Pacific. He has also held several commercial and operational roles with Maersk across Asia, the Middle East and Europe.  Raveen holds an Executive MBA from the IE Business School in Madrid and a Postgraduate Certificate in Business from the University of Wales. He also holds a Diploma in Port Management from Lloyds Maritime Academy and a graduate degree in Engineering.

Jill Lambert

Senior Vice President, Communications

Jill Lambert leads DP World’s communications across the GCC, overseeing corporate communications, events and partnerships, brand and digital and creative services.

Her work focuses on shaping DP World’s regional narrative, driving integrated cross-functional campaigns and strengthening stakeholder engagement. She brings a strategic and outcomes-focused approach to storytelling and reputation management in complex organisations.

Jill has extensive experience developing and delivering high-impact communication strategies for global businesses going through periods of growth and transformation. Prior to her current role, Jill served as Director of Communications at DP World and Head of Corporate Communications at Etihad Aviation Group.Jill holds degrees in Business Administration, Sociology and Business Information Technology Systems.

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