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.

Martin G. Pedersen is the Chairman of IFZA, the most trusted independent Free Zone Community in the UAE. A serial entrepreneur whose philosophy sits proudly outside the box, Martin has an unrelenting drive to redefine boundaries, develop sustainably successful companies, and continuously improve the way he, his team and his clients do business.

IFZA is the culmination of Martin’s entrepreneurial vision, ambition and pioneering approach. It is far more than a Free Zone Community; it is an collaborative environment where SMEs and their teams are motivated to create, inspired to succeed, and enabled to become part of an ever-evolving ecosystem that nurtures energy, creativity and determination.

IFZA is well-positioned to increase its global reach across new markets in an environment that empowers people to dare to live, do business and thrive differently. As it continues to expand and go from strength to strength, so too does its ability to adapt, grow and provide new opportunities for SMEs and larger enterprises to excel in an ever-developing community of international businesses.

A natural problem-solver who loves what he does, Martin is committed to constant progress. With IFZA, he is ambitious enough to build upon the company’s foundation of sustainable success, but humble enough to recognise the need for continuous improvement. He believes that there should never be limits placed on new ideas and knows that there are always ways to innovate, evolve and improve.

Throughout his unfolding journey with IFZA, Martin is looking forward to evolving his vision and forward-thinking mindset even further, while also empowering IFZA licensees to do the same in the unique ecosystem of Dubai. Just as the region has facilitated Martin’s own entrepreneurial success and provided him with the tools, resources and freedom to thrive, he believes Dubai will continue to grow as a global hub, where innovation, ambition and passion are rewarded, and the businesses, innovators and entrepreneurs of the future are cultivated.

Jim Hagemann Snabe is Chairman Siemens AG (D) and Board member C3.ai (US). He is a member of the Board of Trustees at World Economic Forum (CH). He is the former co-CEO of SAP AG and former Chairman A. P. Moller Maersk (DK).

With 25 years of experience in the IT industry, Jim Hagemann Snabe is focused on leadership around innovation, digitisation and societal progress. As co-CEO of SAP Jim, together with Bill McDermott, was instrumental in driving the strategic development of SAP to double the value of the company and play a more responsible role in society. In 2013 he and co-CEO Bill McDermott were ranked #2 on Glassdoor.com’s listing of the top fifty highest rated CEOs, based on their 99 percent approval rating from employees.

In his capacity as a global business leader, Jim is involved in a number of activities focused on societal progress and the role of business in society. Snabe’s views on leadership is shaped by his commitment to solving societal issues and his trust in human potential.

Snabe received a master’s degree in operational research from the Aarhus School of Business in Denmark. In 2016 Jim was appointed Adjunct Professor at Copenhagen Business School based on his work around digital transformation and its impact on business and society. He lives with his family in Copenhagen, Denmark.