DUBAI PRECIOUS METALS CONFERENCE

Ahmed Bin Sulayem

Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer DMCC

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 free zone in 2023 with over 23,000 member companies from 180 countries, employing over 66,000 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 has been named the ‘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 across 87 towers. Mr Bin Sulayem also oversees the development of DMCC’s latest real estate project; the much-anticipated 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 in November 2015. Shortly after, the UAE Ministry of Economy officially appointed Mr Bin Sulayem as the UAE’s Chair of the Kimberley Process for 2016.

H.E. Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri

Cabinet Member & UAE Minister of Economy

H.E. Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri was appointed Minister of Economy of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and member of the UAE Cabinet in July 2020.

He is the Chairman of the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Etihad Credit Insurance (ECI), the UAE International Investors Council, the CSR UAE Fund’s Board of Trustees, and the Head of the Circular Economy Policy Committee within the UAE Circular Economy Council. He also chairs several government committees including the Supreme Committee for Consumer Protection, the National Civil Aviation Security and Facilitation Committee, the Economic Integration Committee, and the Emirates Tourism Council.

Prior to his appointment, Al Marri held various senior government positions. He was the Secretary General of the UAE Cabinet since 2017, during which he was instrumental in strengthening the interdependence between the federal and local governments. In this role, he also spearheaded many initiatives aimed at measuring public opinion and acceptability of public policies, and he developed critical partnerships with international organizations such as the World Economic Forum.

Minister Al Marri formerly served as the Chairman of the Securities and Commodities Authority and the Director General of the Executive Office of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. He was part of the leading team behind the launch of “Area 2071,” the nucleus of the future envisioned in the UAE Centennial Plan 2071. He also took part in the unveiling of the Hatta Economic Zone development project and the relaunching of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Center for Leadership Development.

In addition, as former CEO of the Dubai Future Foundation, Al Marri played a vital role in the successful launch of Dubai 10X, the Emirate’s bid to become the city of the future, and other initiatives at the local and national levels.

Minister Al Marri is a member of the Boards of Directors of various federal entities. In these roles, he actively supports the development of priority sectors in the country such as the Golden Visa initiative, which seeks to attract talented individuals from across the world.

Minister Al Marri holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Sheffield in the United Kingdom. Moreover, he is a graduate of the UAE Government Leaders Programme and Mohammed Bin Rashid Center for Leadership Development.

Feryal Ahmadi

Chief Operating Officer DMCC

Overseeing its long-term strategic growth, Feryal has shaped the corporate governance structure at DMCC, fostering the development of high-growth, high-impact ecosystems that increase global trade and investment flows through Dubai. She has been instrumental in securing DMCC’s reputation as the world’s leading free zone, recipient of the Global Free Zone of the Year award by the Financial Times for nine consecutive years. With a member base of over 24,000 companies across diversified sectors, DMCC today contributes to 11% of Dubai FDI and 7% of GDP. Feryal leads the implementation of DMCC’s Smart and Sustainable District Strategy and oversees the development of its iconic mixed-used districts of Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT) and Uptown Dubai.

Jordan Belfort

Global Entrepreneur and Best-Selling Author

Jin Hennig

Managing Director, Global Head of Metals Products
CME Group

Jin Hennig serves as CME Group’s Managing Director and Global Head of Metals Products. In this role, she leads the strategic development, management, and profitability of the company’s global metals business across the entire metals complex. Since joining CME Group in 2011, Hennig has held positions of increasing responsibility within the metals business. She also serves on CME Group’s Diversity and Inclusion Council, where she plays a key role in driving the company’s D&I strategy.

Prior to joining CME Group, Hennig worked as a ferro alloy trader at the David J. Joseph Company, a subsidiary of Nucor Steel, where she focused on expanding international trading business.

She holds an international MBA in economics and finance from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, and a bachelor’s degree in economics and finance from Kalamazoo College. She serves on the Board of Directors for The Copper Club, the Board of Trustees at Kalamazoo College, and is the Vice Chair of the Investment Committee.

Additionally, she is a member of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s (CFTC) Energy & Environmental Market Advisory Committee (EEMAC) and serves on its Subcommittee for Critical Minerals and Metals, advising on the role of metals in the energy transition economy.

In 2019, Hennig was named to Crain’s Chicago Business 40 under 40 list. She is also a member of World 50.

Michael Lawrence

Chief Executive
Asia House

Michael Lawrence OBE is the Chief Executive of Asia House, an independent think tank and advisory service. He leads the Asia House team in delivering business and market intelligence to some of the world’s biggest companies and governments in Asia, the Middle East and Europe.

Michael was appointed Chief Executive of Asia House in September 2012 after a distinguished career as a journalist, editor and executive in international media. He has developed Asia House into the premier UK-based institution on Asia and the Middle East, chairing high-level dialogues between senior political figures and business leaders and enabling impartial and objective discussion on key strategic issues. Michael is a trusted advisor to governments, global financial institutions and multinational companies with relationships at the most senior level.

Prior to joining Asia House, Michael spent 18 years at Reuters (later Thomson Reuters), the international news and financial information organisation, where he held several senior positions over the course of his career.

Yongtao Zhang

Vice Chairman and Secretary General
China Gold Association

Zhang Yongtao, a Professorate Senior Engineer, is Vice Chairman and Secretary General of China Gold Association. Over the past 40 years, Mr. Zhang has been engaged in mining industry management and technology management, with high theoretical level and strong business working ability, and has presided over and organized the gold industry planning, the formulation of national standards and industry standards, and technological projects for many times.

With a thorough understanding of the gold industrial chain, he is well positioned to light the way for healthy and high-quality development of the gold industry and enterprises.

He served as a judge for a wide range of evaluation activities including licensed precious metal products of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the National S&T Progress Awards (also as a member of the expert panel of the Awards Evaluation Committee), Ministry of Natural Resources, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, General Administration of Customs and China Development Bank (an expert judge).

Artur Glazunov

Head of Division
Ministry of Finance of Russia

Artur Glazunov is the Head of the International Cooperation Unit Department for State Control of Precious Metals and Precious Stones Sector, Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation. He is responsible for international cooperation in the precious metals and precious stones sector. He oversees the Ministry’s role in representing the Russian Federation in the Kimberley Process. Russian Chairmanship in the Kimberley Process in 2021 is a milestone achieved under his leadership. His team and he promote trade in precious metals, diamonds and jewelry with a multitude of partners across the globe. He supervises organization of jewelry exhibitions in Moscow and help Russian masters participate in fairs abroad.

Louis Ng

President
Malaysia Gold Association

Louis Ng, President of the Malaysia Gold Association (MGA) and the Founder & Executive Chairman of Public Gold Group, a leading precious metals trading company in Malaysia. With over 20 years of industry experience, he has expanded Public Gold’s reach across Southeast Asia and Dubai. His in-depth knowledge of refining, minting, and international trade has provided him a strong understanding of industry trends. Recognized for his expertise, he frequently shares insights as a gold columnist in Malaysia’s prime media and as a speaker at industry events. Louis has significantly shaped Malaysia’s gold market, contributing to its growth and regional influence.

Surendra Mehta

National Secretary
India Bullion & Jewellers Association Ltd.

Surendra Mehta is a qualified Chartered Accountant from 1988 batch.

He has been appointed as National Secretary of 105 year Old Association of India Bullion and Jewellers Association (IBJA) since 2012. He was pioneer in converting old Bombay Bullion Association (BBA) to India Bullion & Jewellers Association.

He has in-depth knowledge of Gold eco system and has delivered more than 500 lectures on Gold policy, GST, Hallmarking, Bullion exchanges etc.

He is one of the key persons for giving idea about Gold Monetization Scheme (GMS) and Sovereign Gold Bond (SGB). He is on product advisory committee of MCX, NSE and BSE. He represents Government on behalf of IBJA for all national issue related to Gold. He was key person to get IBJA gold benchmark rates approved with Reserve Bank of India and Ministry of Finance. Currently no bank can lend money against gold jewellery except on IBJA rates as per various notification of Reserve Bank of India. Further, as per Govt of India gazzatte notification of Ministry of Finance, sovereign gold bond can only be issued and redeemed at IBJA rates. He regularly features on various media channel to give his candid views on gold. His quotes and write ups in print media are most awaited in jewellery industry. He is said to be master in interpretation of law related to Gold industry. He is also on steering committee of World Gold Council for setting up of Bullion Exchange and Bullion bank . IBJA has set up its offices in 29 states under his able leadership. He is considered to beexpert in forcasting gold spot market.

He is part of Gold standard set up by different exchanges. He is the key person in implementing OECD guidelines for Gold Industry.

He regularly features in Media and Press for his views on gold market.

Nyiko Cecil

Chief Executive Officer
South African Diamond and Precious Metals Regulator

Mr Cecil Khosa is the Chief Executive Officer of the South African Diamond and Precious Metals Regulator (SADPMR) an organisation that regulates the downstream beneficiation of diamond and precious metals. He joined the SADPMR in 2015 as General Manager: Regulatory Compliance before moving into the role of the CEO in 2019.

Cecil brings a significant wealth of mining and business experience, gained over a period of 25 years in the upstream and midstream minerals sectors. He possesses amongst others, the following academic qualifications from local and international institutions: Honours Degree in Geography, Post Graduate Diploma in Management Practice, and Masters in Earth Sciences Mining.

Gary Wee

Chairman and Chief Investment Officer
Vizier Asset Management ADGM

Gary Wee is Chairman and CIO of Vizier Asset Management ADGM and serves as a board member on Emirates Gold DMCC based in Dubai. Gary has managed hedge funds and derivatives for over thirty years and ranks as one of the world’s most successful global credit hedge fund managers;he is a multiple award-winning credit trader and portfolio manager and his fund was consistently ranked number one by Bloomberg, Creditflux, and in the top fifty global hedge funds by Barron's magazine. He received his BA (Hons) in Economics from Queen’s University and earned his MS in Information Management from Syracuse University.

David Soud

Head of Research and Analysis
I.R. Consilium, LLC

David Soud is Head of Research and Analysis at I.R. Consilium, a family-owned consulting firm in Maryland, USA that specializes in issues of maritime security, resource security, and strategy.

He is a leading expert on illicit supply chains and the criminal exploitation of extractives, including gold. His work on gold encompasses countering illegal mining, gold laundering, gold based money laundering (GBML), and sanctions evasion, and has included a groundbreaking series of reports for the OECD as well as research grants. He collaborates with governments and international organizations, and with partners and clients from both civil society and the private sector.

Mohammed Sultan Janahi

AML Expert
UAE Ministry of Economy

Mohammed Sultan Janahi is an AML Expert at the UAE Ministry of Economy. Previously, Mohammed was an employee of the International Monetary Fund where he worked in the Financial Integrity Division on AML/CFT issues. Before joining the IMF, Mohammed was the Head of AML/CFT Supervision at the UAE Ministry of Economy responsible for the non-financial sector, including Dealers of Precious Metal & Stones. He was also with the Dubai Financial Services Authority as a supervisor for banks and non-bank financial institutions. Mohammed holds a Master of Laws in Financial Crime & Anti-Money Laundering and a Certified AML Specialist by the Association of Certified AML Specialists.

Sakhila Mirza

Deputy Chief Executive & General Counsel
LBMA

In her role as Deputy Chief Executive and General Counsel of LBMA and also as Executive Director of the LBMA Board, Sakhila Mirza works closely with the CEO on the strategic direction of the LBMA. Her role involves addressing all the legal and regulatory matters, the Responsible Sourcing Programme, market development initiatives, and lobbying efforts on behalf of members.

Sakhila read law at the London School of Economics and went on to qualify as a solicitor.

Louis Maréchal

Senior Advisor
OECD

Louis Maréchal joined the Centre for Responsible Business Conduct of the OECD in September 2014. He specifically works on projects related to the implementation of the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas. His current portfolio entails, amongst other things, responsible sourcing of transition / critical minerals and responsible sourcing of gold.

Prior to joining the OECD, Louis Maréchal worked for four years with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of France on issues related to transparency and governance in the mining sector, and security of supply of strategic metals. He started his career with a strategic consultancy firm focusing on the defence and extractives industries.

Andrew Naylor

Head of Middle East and Public Policy
World Gold Council

Andrew Naylor joined the World Gold Council in 2016. He leads the Council’s regional office in the UAE and heads up public policy initiatives globally. Before his current role, he was Head of APAC (ex-China) and based in Singapore. He was previously part of the central banks and public policy team and led the Council’s Islamic finance initiative. Before joining the World Gold Council Andrew worked for the international consultancy firm Cicero Group advising financial institutions on foreign investment and trade policy in Asia and the global regulatory reform agenda.

Andrew is a member of the supervisory board of the EU-ASEAN Business Council. Previous appointments include chairman of the Singapore Bullion Market Association’s public affairs committee from 2017-2013, and board member of the European Chamber of Commerce in Singapore between 2012 and 2019.

Andrew regularly gives broadcast media commentary on global political-economic developments on the BBC, Bloomberg Asharq, Sky News, Channel NewsAsia, Dubai Eye and CNBC.

Andrew has bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the London School of Economics and Political Science.

Mayer Ngomesia

Strategic Partner
RESOLVE Group, Inc.

Mayer Ngomesia leads RESOLVE's work on the security-development nexus in ASGM. A former UN official, he has advised governments, private sector actors, and NGOs on geopolitical and geostrategic issues in resource governance. Mayer played a pivotal role in delivering technical assistance supporting 14 countries in reviewing their mining policy frameworks. With nearly two decades of experience, he specializes in adapting "first-best" policy prescriptions to political economy realities on the ground. He has established field operations for multi-stakeholder initiatives in ASGM and facilitated multilateral engagements on conflict diamonds. Mayer is a Duke University alumnus and has served on several advisory bodies.

H.E Moses Micheal Engadu

Secretary General
Africa Minerals Strategy Group

H.E Moses Micheal Engadu was appointed Secretary-General of the Africa Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG) on 9th January 2024.

He is the Chairman of the Africa Minerals and Metals Exchange and the Africa Responsible Mineral Sourcing Initiative.

The Secretary-General has centred his efforts on harnessing Africa’s vast mineral resources to spur socio-economic transformation, ensure a sustainable, transparent and secure supply of minerals while protecting the environment and improving the quality of life of people. Through facilitating international cooperation and strategic initiatives, he is leading Africa’s drive to maximumly benefit from its bountiful resources while positively contributing to the growth and stability of global markets, supporting the energy transition and aligning to international standards and practices.

Prior to his appointment as Secretary-General, H.E Engadu held various leadership roles in government, development and private sector. He led the development of a National Electronic Investor’s Protection Portal and the creation of a National Brand for the Republic of Uganda. He was the CEO of the World Monarchs Summit, a platform bringing together the world’s monarchs to find collective solutions to unprecedented global challenges. He also led the development and rollout of U-Report, a global youth engagement and social monitoring platform supported by UNICEF with over 35 million members in 102 countries.

H.E Engadu is a passionate social innovator and strategist committed to using his experience and expertise to make a positive difference for people and communities. He volunteers with the International Young Catholic Students as Special Envoy for Sustainable Development.

John Reade

Senior Market Strategist
World Gold Council

John Reade is Senior Market Strategist: Europe and Asia and is based in London. He joined the World Gold Council in 2017 and, working closely with the research team, is responsible for developing strategy about gold and engaging with all aspects of the gold market. He is also one of the principal spokespeople for the organisation.

John has over 35 years’ experience in the gold industry and has worked for gold mining companies in production and project evaluation;for investment banks as an equity analyst and gold strategist;and at an asset manager as gold strategist and portfolio manager.

John has a degree in Mining Engineering from the Royal School of Mines, a constituent of Imperial College, London.

Chirag Sheth

Principal Consultant
Metals Focus

Chirag Sheth is the Head of Metals Focus-India, a top independent consultancy in precious metals. With over 19 years of experience in trading and research, he has worked with Union Bank of Switzerland (UBS), LM Commodities, and UTI Securities.

Specialising in the Asian jewellery and investment markets, Chirag serves on advisory committees for IFSCA, NSE, and MCX and advises various trade bodies in India. He contributed to the Niti Aayog Subcommittee focused on transforming India's gold market and is a regular speaker at national and international forums. Chirag holds a bachelor’s and a postgraduate degree in management and finance.

Alain Baron

General Manager
NGSA

Dr Alain Baron, Dr in Numismatics from the University of Vienna, is a worldwide recognized authority for gold coins.

His company, NGSA, founded in 1988, deals in bullion gold coins, especially with central banks, as well as in precious collector coins.

Joshua Rotbart

Managing Partner
J.Rotbart & Co.

Joshua Rotbart (LLM, MBA) is the founder and managing partner of J. Rotbart & Co., a bullion company providing solutions for high net worth individuals and families, asset management firms and private banks interested in buying, selling, storing and transporting physical precious metals worldwide.

Joshua started his career in the bullion industry in 2010 as the head of the precious metals division of Malca-Amit group. Together with a team of experts Joshua founded J. Rotbart & Co. in 2016. J. Rotbart & Co. operates offices in Hong Kong, Singapore, and the Philippines, and utilizes 13 secure storage locations spread from North America to New Zealand.

Mohammad Ayyob

General Manager
Sam Precious Metals

With over 18 years of experience, Mr. Mohammad Ayyob has established himself as a leading expert in the precious metals industry, specializing in strategy, growth, and business development. As the General Manager of SAM since 2018, he has been instrumental in transforming the company from a startup into one of the top gold and precious metals refineries in the UAE.

Mr. Ayyob expertly manages counterparty relationships and has a deep understanding of the gold and silver supply and demand in the UAE. His strategic initiatives include determining and overseeing all activities at SAM to ensure the highest standards of operation.
Mr. Ayyob graduated with a degree in Marketing and began his career in the automobile industry. He transitioned to the Precious Metals sector in 2009 as the Diamonds and Jewellery Business Development Manager, marking the start of his impactful journey in the industry. Thereafter, Mr. Ayyob served as the General Manager for UAE and the Middle East at Brinks Global Services till 2018. During his tenure, he significantly enhanced the company's market presence by expanding its reach and influence within the region. He also improved operational efficiency through strategic initiatives and process optimizations, leading to increased productivity and profitability. Mr. Ayyob has provided expert insights on high-level issues, including regulatory matters in the precious metals sector, for various government and industry forums. He is also the Chairman of the Dubai Business Group for Bullion and Gold Refinery.

His extensive experience highlights his deep knowledge of upstream and downstream gold procurement and sales, and his ability to make strategic commercial decisions. He is dedicated to promoting innovative value-added products and has built a robust network within the Middle East's gold and precious metals sector.

Mr. Ayyob’s leadership and strategic vision continue to shape the competitive field of precious metals, making him an invaluable asset to the entire industry.

Scott Willig

Global Head of Precious Metals Trading
JP Morgan Chase

Scott Willig is the Global Head of Precious Metals Trading at J.P. Morgan. Scott has held a number of leadership positions within the J.P. Morgan Commodities division since 2008 including Head of US Macro Investable Indices Trading & Structuring and Head of Global Agricultural Trading. Prior to joining J.P. Morgan, Scott worked in Commodities and Interest Rates Trading at Lehman Brothers. Scott is a member of the Shanghai Gold Exchange International Advisory Committee and holds a B.A. in Economics with a concentration in Finance from Princeton University.

Mark Valek

Fund Manager
Incrementum AG

Mark is a founding partner of Incrementum AG and is responsible for Portfolio Management and Research. Together with Ronald Stoeferle, he co-authors the internationally renowned “In Gold We Trust” report.

While working full-time, Mark studied business administration at the Vienna University of Economics and Business and has continuously worked in financial markets and asset management since 1999. Prior to founding Incrementum AG, he spent ten years at Raiffeisen Capital Management, most recently as a fund manager specializing in inflation protection and alternative investments.

In 2011, he gained entrepreneurial experience as a co-founder of the bullion dealer philoro Edelmetalle GmbH, which is now one of the leading bullion dealers in Europe. In 2014, he co-authored the book Austrian School for Investors.

Sundaravalli Narayanaswami

Associate Professor
Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad

Prof Sundaravalli Narayanaswami holds a PhD in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research from IIT Bombay, after a master’s in computer science.

She is on the core faculty at IIM Ahmedabad. She also serves as the Chairperson of the India Gold Policy Centre at IIM Ahmedabad. She is an accomplished researcher and Professor of higher education.

Dr Sundaravalli actively advises various Indian government organizations through her consultancy assignments on good governance and administration. Her professional affiliation in the past included academic experience under UAE federal education ministry.

Faisal Ahmed

CEO & Managing Partner
AKW Consultants

Faisal Ahmed is a qualified Chartered Accountant and carries more than two decades of experience with Advisory Services at Price Waterhouse Coopers in London, KPMG and HSBC Bank.

Currently, Faisal is leading AKW Consultants Group of Companies headquartered in the UAE. He has led projects for a number of banks and organisations across the GCC Region and in Afghanistan in Financial Due Diligence, Business Plan Design, Regulatory Compliance, AML matters, developing Anti-Fraud departments in the banks and Responsible Sourcing audits. In addition, Faisal is also leading Tax, Audit, Accounting & Internal Audit Services in the UAE and manages clients across Middle East, UK and Europe.

Shaji Kakkodi

Group Chief Digital officer
Malabar Gold and Diamonds

Shaji Kakkodi serves as the Group Chief Digital Officer (CDO) at Malabar Gold and Diamonds, a technology leadership role he has held since 2012. He leads the company’s global digital transformation strategy and oversees the implementation of IT initiatives. As a technology leader, Shaji brings extensive experience in driving transformation and leveraging technology to foster growth and enhance productivity.

Before joining Malabar Gold and Diamonds, Shaji spent over 12 years at Oracle USA as a Solution Architect, working with clients across North America.

Shaji holds a bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering from the University of Mumbai and a master's degree in Computing from Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.

Hans Schwab

Co-Founder
OriginAll

Serial entrepreneur with two decades of experience in product traceability and developing platforms and applications to combat counterfeiting and illicit trade. Hans previously served as Chief Information Officer of a publicly traded Swiss cybersecurity company and spent a decade in various senior roles at the World Economic Forum in Geneva, Switzerland, including as a member of its Executive Board.

Hans was an early member of the OECD Taskforce on Charting Illicit Trade. From 2014 to 2016, he served on the World Economic Forum’s Global Agenda Council on Human Rights and the Meta-Council on the Illicit Economy.

Matt Ong

CEO & Founder
Ctrl Alt

After achieving a first-class undergraduate degree in Economics, with his fitting final dissertation on breaking down barriers to film investing, Ong went on to work across fund structuring, alternative investments and trading at Morgan Stanley. He was then hired by Credit Suisse to build out their fund structuring business, as an expert in the field.

Matt's experience in these roles exposed him to various complexities and inefficiencies within traditional investment avenues, sparking his determination to bring about meaningful change in the industry and hence how Ctrl Alt was born.

Kevin Kilty

CEO & Founder
Hubpay

Kevin Kilty is CEO & Founder of Hubpay Limited. Hubpay is a x-border payments platform based out of the UAE, with both a retail and corporate solution active in the market. Hubpay’s B2B platform is the leading solution for FX spot in the UAE, with strong payment capabilities across Africa. Hubpay is the leading payment solution for the gold businesses in the UAE, with many gold companies already benefiting from their superior pricing and delivery of payments into Africa and other major markets.

Mohammed Karam

Head of Business Development, Precious Metals and Stones
DMCC

With over a decade in the gemological and commodities sectors, I am currently the Head of Business Development at DMCC, where I drive growth and strategic partnerships to strengthen Dubai’s position as a global trade hub. My prior experience spans 11+ years at Dubai Municipality in roles such as Chemical Analysis Section Manager and Head of the Gemstones and Precious Metals Laboratory Unit. Starting as a Gemologist, my expertise has evolved to blend technical precision with strategic insight, enhancing Dubai’s global influence in precious commodities.