Leadership and Management Team - Dubai Silicon Oasis
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Our team at Dubai Silicon Oasis is led by Dr. Juma Al Matrooshi, Director General and overseen by Dr. Mohammed Al Zarouni, Executive Chairman of Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DIEZ).
DIEZ is also chaired by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum. Sheikh Ahmed holds several government positions and plays an increasingly pivotal role in leading the emirate’s finance and energy sectors.
His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum
Over the past 35 years, HH Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum has been at the forefront of Dubai’s remarkable economic development spearheading the successful expansion of aviation, which constitutes a substantial part of Dubai’s GDP, and formulating economic, investment and fiscal policies and strategies in support of the emirate’s overarching vision.
Sheikh Ahmed also holds several influential government positions, including serving as Second Vice Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai, which is responsible for formulating policies and strategies for Dubai, Chairman of Dubai’s Supreme Fiscal Committee and Board Member of the Investment Corporation of Dubai (ICD).
Sheikh Ahmed holds a Bachelor’s in Political Science from the University of Denver in the United States. He has received many international honours, including the fellowship of the British Royal Aeronautical Society, Commandeur de l’Ordre de la Legion d’Honneur (the Legion of Honour) – the highest French civilian award, the Verfassungsportugaleser, one of Germany’s highest honours, and an honorary degree of Doctor of Science from City University London, Cass Business School.
Leadership Team Without Title

With over 25 years of experience leading and developing free economic zones, H.E. Dr. Mohammed Al Zarooni is considered one of the world’s top free zone influencing leaders. In 2021, H.E. Dr. Al Zarooni was appointed as Executive Chairman of Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DIEZ), holding three of Dubai’s pioneering Free Zones, Dubai Airport Freezone, Dubai Silicon Oasis, and Dubai CommerCity.
In 2000, H.E. Dr. Al Zarooni was appointed as Director-General of the Dubai Airport Freezone Authority (DAFZA), which, through his visionary leadership, quickly grew to become one of the top-performing freezones in the world. In 2002, the Dubai Government appointed him as Vice Chairman and CEO of the Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority (DSOA), one of the region’s most advanced and successful technology hubs. In 1995, His Excellency join the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority as Director of Research and Administration and at that time, as he was one of the most prominent officials responsible for the establishment of the Dubai Airport Free Zone in 1996. Before joining the Department, he worked in the Ministry of Education for 8 years.
In 2014, H.E. Dr. Al Zarooni was instrumental in conceptualizing and establishing the non-profit World Free Zones Organization. He is presently the chairman of this multilateral organization which acts as an
association for all free zones in the world. In 2015, he was appointed as the Secretary-General of the Dubai Free Zone Council. A prominent personality in Dubai’s economy, H.E. Dr. Al Zarooni is a member of the Dubai Economic Council. He also sits on several major institutions’ boards, including Dubai Aerospace Enterprise, Emirati Human Resources Development Council, and RIT Dubai Board of Directors, in addition, he is the Chairman of Tradeling Board (a B2B ecommerce marketplace). H.E. Dr. Al Zarooni is an accomplished speaker on free zones and has been invited to address keynotes worldwide at numerous conferences and forums.
H.E. Dr. Mohammed Al Zarooni graduated with a Ph.D. Degree from the University of Durham in the U.K. His doctoral thesis was on “The Position of the Free Zones in Economic Development.”

Follow the updates of Mr. Badr Buhannad on LinkedIn
Mr. Badr Buhannad is the Director General of Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO), where he leads the strategic evolution of Dubai’s dedicated knowledge and innovation district. With over two decades of experience in corporate strategy, business services, and audit management, he is a proven strategic leader known for aligning long-term vision with operational execution, delivering measurable impact through C-level engagement, board reporting, and transformation initiatives.
Before assuming the role of Director General, Mr. Buhannad served as Deputy Director General of DSO and Chief Corporate Support Officer at Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DIEZ). In this dual capacity, he oversaw corporate functions and led the Authority’s digital transformation, driving enterprise technology upgrades, supply chain optimization, and business process redesign. He played a pivotal role in shaping DIEZ’s cluster-based development model while strengthening cross-functional alignment across strategic sectors.
At DSO, Mr. Buhannad has championed several major organizational shifts, including the launch of the 2021 Strategic Pillars, Smart City, Desired Society, Technology Hub, and Happiest People, framing a renewed purpose in line with the Dubai 2021 Plan. His leadership has also driven infrastructure modernization, end-to-end process reengineering, and a corporate culture reset focused on agility and impact.
His earlier roles include Chief Audit and Risk Officer at Dubai International Financial Centre Authority (DIFCA), where he established the internal audit and risk department. He has also held senior positions at Dubai World and the Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation, bringing a strong foundation in finance, operations, and governance.
In addition to his executive responsibilities, Mr. Buhannad contributes to Dubai’s national digital transformation efforts as a member of the Dubai Free Zone Council’s Digital Committee.
He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and a Higher Diploma in Accounting from the Higher Colleges of Technology, Dubai.
Leadership Team
Our Team

Ghanim Al Falasi career in Dubai Silicon Oasis spans more than 12 years when he was appointed as Senior Vice-President of Corporate Support Services in 2011. Under his lead, Ghanim managed the HR, Business Excellence, IT & Supply Management, People Happiness and Innovation, and Client Success Department. In 2021, Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DIEZ) was established to consolidate and integrate the products and services of Dubai Airport Free Zone (DAFZ), Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO), and Dubai CommerCity (DCC). Following to this establishment, Ghanim was assigned by the end of 2021 to spearhead and direct the Technology & Entrepreneurship business units under the DIEZ. Furthermore, Ghanim was entrusted in 2023 with a significant responsibility with his new appointment as the Senior Vice President of the Technology Ecosystem and development office at DIEZ.
Ghanim has developed an extensive knowledge and know-how in the ICT sector from his previous role as Vice-President of the ICT Unit at Dubai Airports where he provided executive, technological and enterprise administrative leadership employment.
In his earlier association with Dubai Airports, Ghanim successfully established an ICT directorate for DCA based on a study conducted to identify and enhance Dubai Airports ICT infrastructure and services required for the delivery of outstanding performance. Al Falasi also worked for several governmental organizations including the UAE Ministry of Defence, UAE Armed Forces, and the Central Military Command.
In 2013, Ghanim was appointed as the Vice Chairman of the Smart City Project Committee at Dubai Silicon Oasis.
Ghanim holds a BS degree in Computer Science from California State University of Hayward, USA. Moreover, he also holds a Chief Innovation Officer “CCInO” Certification from LEAD, Organization & Relation Systems Coaching Certification from ORSC, and most recently a certification from Neurolink-USA for being a Brain & Emotional Intelligence Practitioner.

Daniel is Senior Vice President of Marketing & Business Growth at Dubai Silicon Oasis; a leading Economic Free Zone in the United Arab Emirates and a key contributor to the Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority. Current partnerships Daniel is leading include initiatives with Emirates Development Bank, Dubai Chambers International, Dubai Economy & Tourism, MIT DesignX, and others.
Across a 20-year career, Irish national, Daniel has advised +200 governments, ministries of economy and foreign affairs, economic jurisdictions and multinational enterprises across 50 countries: occupying positions of responsibility for industry leaders including UK Trade & Investment, London & Partners, Enterprise Florida and Arizona Department of Commerce whereby he led teams generating more than 5,000 jobs from foreign investors. He has significant international experience in the role that Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) can impact economic growth.
His career has foundational stints working in the aviation, consumer market research and sporting apparel industries in Boston, London and Dublin, respectively. He has also held senior roles leading advisory firms including Wavteq, OCO Global, Mintel and PA Consulting.
Daniel has been an expert panellist at global industry events including Select USA Annual Conference and GITEX, Expand Northstar; trained +500 professionals on behalf of multilateral entities including World Bank, UNIDO and Select USA; whilst also advising corporates, on corporate expansion issues, including Financial Times, Emirates Development Bank, KPMG and HSBC.
Daniel is a member of the Institute for Global Negotiation (IGN) in Zurich, Switzerland and is presently completing training as a Certified International Negotiator (CINTM) via the Chartered Institute of Professional Certifications.

Jamal Bin Marghoob is a Vice President, Client and Community Relations at Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO), bringing experience from previous roles at DIEZ, Dubai Integrated Economic Zones and Dubai Airport Freezone Authority - DAFZA. Jamal Bin Marghoob holds a 1992 - 1997 Bachelor's degree in Marketing at California State University-Chico. With a robust skill set that includes Strategic Planning, Team Building, Marketing Communications, Marketing, Marketing Strategy and more, Jamal contributes to the success of DSO members.

Ahmad Hassan Alzaabi is the VP of the Commercial Services at Dubai Silicon Oasis within Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DIEZ). With 20+ years of experience in project management, customer experience, lisensing, markets relations and compliance, he has worked with various government entities and received awards and certificates for his outstanding contributions.
Notably, he developed "The Smart Projection AI," the first consumer-focused AI of its kind. Ahmad has been recognized for his roles in international and domestic projects like the Covid19 Emergency Crisis and Disaster Committee, ICPEN, WEF, UNDP, MBRCLD and AI Ethical Board. His academic background includes a higher diploma in Aviation Engineering, Bachelor's in Management, a Master's in Communication, and completion of the "Global Negotiation program" at Harvard Law School. Additionally, he completed the "Dubai Opening Program" at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy in Singapore and holds a leadership certificate from Mohammad Bin Rashid Program for Leadership Development MBRPLD in association with Duke university.

Khawla Al Falasi serves as Vice President and Head of the Shared Services Department at Dubai Silicon Oasis, part of the Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DIEZ). A seasoned leader with a strong foundation in finance, operations, and customer service, she brings over a decade of experience driving strategic growth, operational excellence, and organizational alignment across high-impact functions.
Known for her ethical leadership and collaborative approach, Khawla excels in high-pressure environments by fostering a culture of accountability, empowerment, and continuous improvement. She is committed to delivering measurable results through innovative problem-solving, data-driven decision-making, and a deep focus on customer experience. Her efforts have contributed to enhancing DSO’s value proposition, launching new services, and supporting business growth through operational efficiency.
Khawla’s background includes experience in the banking sector and property services within DIEZ’s Facility Management division. She is a certified internal auditor and an active member of several internal committees, including the DIEZ Women Committee, where she champions diversity and inclusion across the organization.
She holds a Bachelor's degree in Science and continues to lead with a strong commitment to integrity, service excellence, and strategic execution.
Dr. Juma Al Matrooshi is Director General of Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO). In his capacity as Director General, Dr. Al Matrooshi is responsible for the development, implementation and communication of DSO’s strategy, including the organization’s mandate, mission, vision and values. Dr. Al Matrooshi also oversees the leadership team, providing his expert guidance and support to ensure that DSO’s business objectives are achieved efficiently and effectively, all the while upholding international best practices. Moreover, Dr. Al Matrooshi assumes leadership for the financial performance of DSO, guiding the development, monitoring and management of DSO’s annual budgets. In sum, he is responsible for delivering on short, medium and long-term goals, ensuring the correct team, policies, procedures, technology and all other essential tools are in place to ensure the success of DSO.
Besides his role at DSO, Dr. Al Matrooshi is a representative for the Dubai government at general assemblies for publicly listed companies. He has also served as a member of several committees, including the Ministry of Economy and Commerce’s trademark committee, Dubai Marketing and Tourism’s development board, and the UAE Banking Institute’s insurance brokerage committee. Dr. Al Matrooshi is the current Assistant to The Secretary General of Dubai Freezone Council; he is also serving as one of the Board Members of World Free Zone Organization; Dr. Al Matrooshi is one of the incumbent members of the UAE Economic Acceleration Unit and he is presently a member of Dubai Government Economy Team.
With vast experience in finance, commercial operations and licensing, among other areas, Dr. Al Matrooshi joined DSO in December 2006. Before joining DSO, Dr. Al Matrooshi held several senior governmental positions, including running commercial licensing at the Dubai Economic Department (DED).
Dr. Juma holds a doctorate in General Management from the Golden Gate University of San Francisco, California and an MBA in Business Development from the Western University, Michigan, USA.
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