Emaar Principal Officers

Shamis Al Shamsi heads Design & Development, leading multidisciplinary teams across major masterplans and landmark assets in the UAE. Shamis plays a key role in shaping development strategy, guiding projects from concept through to design completion, and working closely with executive leadership to translate vision into high-performing communities. He drives design direction, team performance, and project outcomes, ensuring alignment with strategic priorities and commercial success. With a background in civil engineering, he began his career as a project manager overseeing construction, bringing a strong technical foundation to development, while actively mentoring and developing future talent within the organisation.

Koen Meert serves as Development Head of Projects at Emaar Development, where he co-leads the company’s construction and delivery portfolio. With more than 23 years of international experience in construction and real estate development, he is recognised for delivering large-scale, complex projects with a focus on operational excellence, innovation, and sustainable growth.

Abdulqader Abusoud is a seasoned executive in development, projects, and infrastructure at Emaar Properties, bringing over 25 years of experience in delivering large-scale urban developments and complex infrastructure programmes. Since assuming his current role in 2023, he has overseen a diverse portfolio of multi-billion AED developments, including more than 260 active projects spanning both building and infrastructure.

Ashraf Dorgham is a highly experienced engineer specialising in tendering, contracts and post-contract administration, planning, and scheduling, with over 30 years of expertise across master developers, local and international developers, project management firms, reputable consultancy practices, and global contracting companies.

Farah Taheri is the Head of Sales and an active member of the Strategic Advisory Board at Emaar Malls Management LLC. She is recognised for her dynamic leadership, ambition, and results-driven approach, consistently exceeding targets and contributing to revenue growth. Farah’s leadership extends beyond her executive role. She actively contributes to national development, leading specialised training programmes for Emirati graduates in the real estate sector. Her work has been featured as a success story by the Land Department, showcasing her role in empowering Emirati professionals and shaping the next generation of industry leaders. Farah is also a proud member of the Women Choice UAE Community, where she drives change and fosters success for women across the region. Her achievements have been recognised in prominent media. Farah holds a Master’s in Engineering Management (MEM) from Abu Dhabi University and a Bachelor’s in Engineering, and she is a certified Facility Management Professional (FMP). Her unique combination of technical expertise, strategic vision, and creative innovation has earned her multiple accolades, including the "Best Manager" award twice within six months.

Mohamed Al Matrooshi is the Head of Emaar Malls & Entertainment, overseeing a diversified portfolio of retail, entertainment, and lifestyle destinations. He leads the strategic direction, performance, and growth of key assets, including flagship malls and community retail developments across Dubai.

Mohammed Al Sahlawi is a strategic finance leader with over 14 years of experience in driving financial performance, operational efficiency, and sustainable growth. He currently serves as Head of Finance at Emaar Malls & Entertainment, where he leads financial strategy, planning, and risk management to support long-term value creation. He combines strong financial discipline with commercial insight and has a proven track record of optimising performance, strengthening governance frameworks, and leading transformation initiatives that enhance efficiency and decision-making across the organisation. He has also served as a Board Member of the Emirates Authority for Standardization & Metrology (ESMA), contributing to national governance and regulatory standards. Mohammed holds an MBA from the Canadian University in Dubai and a Bachelor of Business Science from Dubai Men’s College.

Mustafa Akram is Head of International at Emaar Properties, having joined the Group in 2021, where he leads the Group’s international strategy and oversees investments, developments, and governance across key global markets. Mustafa directs Emaar's international portfolio across high-growth and strategically significant markets, including India, Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Morocco. He oversees the full investment lifecycle, from market entry assessment and land acquisition to joint venture structuring, project execution, and long-term asset governance, working closely with Group leadership to align international operations with Emaar's broader vision of sustainable growth and value creation on a global scale. With deep expertise in large-scale real estate and mixed-use developments, Mustafa has demonstrated consistent success in leading complex, multi-market projects with precision and strategic clarity. He plays a central role in driving Emaar's international expansion agenda, identifying and evaluating high-potential investment opportunities, cultivating strategic partnerships, and reinforcing Emaar's brand positioning across both emerging and established markets. His leadership ensures that Emaar's international ventures uphold the same standards of excellence and innovation that define the Group's flagship developments. Mustafa holds a Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering from the American University of Sharjah, providing a strong technical foundation that underpins his strategic, commercial, and operational leadership across Emaar's global portfolio.

Mr. Akash Veerwani is a highly accomplished senior finance leader with over two decades of extensive experience in large multinationals. He joined Emaar International in January 2019.

Kalyan has an extensive experience of 30 years in India, the UK, the US and Europe in Real Estate and Financial Services. Holding multiple leadership roles of increasing responsibilities with operations across India, UK, USA, France, Germany and Ireland, Kalyan played vital roles in GE Capital, GE Commercial Finance and Genpact. Kalyan Chakrabarti is now leading the expansion of Emaar's real estate business in India as the Chief Executive Officer.

At Emaar Hospitality, Hakan Keskin oversees the Group’s hospitality portfolio, with a focus on driving performance, long-term growth, and elevated guest experiences across its brands and assets. He leads an integrated approach that aligns brand development, asset performance, and expansion strategy within a unified vision supporting the evolution of Emaar’s hospitality business.

Elie Dibo is the Chief Financial Officer of Emaar Hospitality Group, where he leads financial strategy, capital allocation, and performance across a diversified portfolio of hospitality and lifestyle assets spanning multiple international markets. With over 20 years of experience in hospitality, real estate, and asset management, he is a key strategic partner to senior leadership, driving business performance, supporting growth initiatives, and ensuring robust governance across both owned and managed operations. His remit includes financial planning and analysis, investment evaluation, and risk management, aligned with the Group’s long-term objectives.

A passionate and highly skilled legal professional with more than 17 years of invaluable experience, Nesreen Bashir is the Head of Legal at Emaar Hospitality Group.

At Emaar Entertainment, Steven is responsible for driving the vision, performance, and long-term value creation for the region’s leading entertainment portfolio. He leads with a clear mandate to transform performance, strengthen profitability, and position the business as a global benchmark in leisure and attractions. The portfolio under his leadership includes flagship destinations such as At The Top – Burj Khalifa, Sky Views Observatory, Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo, Dubai Ice Rink, Reel Cinemas and KidZania, alongside international footprints across Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Turkey. These assets collectively serve millions of guests annually and are central to the region’s tourism ecosystem. Steven is known for instilling strong commercial discipline across complex, high-volume operations. He drives margin expansion through cost optimisation, revenue diversification, and strategic reinvestment, while building a high-performance culture focused on accountability and execution. With a leadership approach grounded in data-driven decision-making and strategic clarity, he is focused on scaling the platform internationally, unlocking new growth opportunities, and ensuring long-term resilience in a rapidly evolving market.

Mr. Arif Alharmi Albastaki joined Amlak Finance in 2007, bringing with him a wealth of knowledge and experience from a long career in senior positions at leading international and domestic financial institutions.

Samuel Hitchcock is the Managing Director of Hamptons International Dubai, bringing over 12 years of real estate experience and a proven record of strategic leadership in the industry. Originally from England, United Kingdom, he has guided international brands in Dubai’s diverse property market, earning a reputation for quality, service, and integrity. Sam has been instrumental in shaping high-performing teams and delivering innovative growth strategies. He helped establish Hamptons Private Office in Dubai, part of a global division recognised as the world’s leading private office for high-net-worth clients. As a visionary leader and business development expert, Sam delivers hands-on leadership that drives revenue growth and builds enduring client relationships.

Mr. Ali H Odeh joined the Emaar Group in 2006.