Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem

Bin Sulayem graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from Temple University in the US. He began his career in Dubai’s customs and ports sector, gaining experience that would later define his leadership in maritime trade. In 1985, he became Chairman of the Jebel Ali Free Zone Authority (JAFZA), where he supervised the transformation of the zone from a local initiative into one of the world’s leading logistics and industrial hubs. As Chairman of Dubai World, he oversaw several of the emirate’s flagship enterprises, including DP World, Nakheel, and Istithmar World. Under his leadership, DP World expanded from a regional operator into a global ports and logistics powerhouse, managing more than 150 operations across six continents. He was appointed Group Chairman and CEO of DP World in 2016. His tenure has been marked by large-scale acquisitions, the integration of smart trade technologies, and the expansion of DP World’s logistics capabilities beyond ports into end-to-end supply chain solutions. Bin Sulayem also chairs several key entities linked to Dubai’s trade and transport ecosystem, including the Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation and the Dubai Maritime City Authority. His work has been instrumental in advancing the UAE’s position as a leading centre for global commerce.