Corporate Governance

Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi is the Managing Director and AD Ports Group CEO, the region’s premier facilitator of logistics, industry, and trade, linking Abu Dhabi to the world.

In his role, he oversees the development of AD Ports Group’ portfolio of assets and activities as well as directs their strategy and operations. Under his leadership, AD Ports Group transitioned from a project-focused organisation to a fully operational, integrated business across 5 clusters – Digital, Economic Cities & Free Zones, Logistics, Maritime, and Ports – connecting global maritime routes and international trading partners has been a remarkable success.

A strong, determined and entrepreneurial leader, Captain Al Shamisi is an experienced maritime executive with almost 20 years of industry experience.

He leads the Group in accelerating the leadership’s vision of elevating into a diversified, knowledge-based, sustainable and innovation-focused economy.

Al Shamisi joined AD Ports Group in 2008 and held key leadership positions within its portfolio, which include the Executive Vice President for the company’s Ports Unit, where he was instrumental in restructuring this unit and rationalising its assets.

He also oversaw the completion and commissioning of the first phase of flagship port, Khalifa Port and adjacent KIZAD.

During his management, AD Ports Group has won more than 40 prestigious local and international awards, including five categories of Abu Dhabi Award for Excellence in Government Performance 2017 which granted the company the Main Award. In addition to serving as Managing Director and GCEO at AD Ports Group, Captain Al Shamisi is the Chairman of Aramex and Chairman of Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Company (ADNEC), the Vice Chairman of UAE Sailing & Rowing Federation, and is also a Board Member of MAKE A WISH Foundation UAE. He is currently the Chairman of KIZAD Board of Directors and the Chairman of the Arab Sea Port Federation.

He previously served as a Board Member of Etihad Airways. Captain Al Shamisi holds an MBA, an advanced Diploma of Applied Science (shipmaster) and a Graduate Certificate of Management from the University of Tasmania, Australia.

Amongst his numerous personal accolades, Captain Al Shamisi was awarded the Peter Morris Prize from the Australian Maritime College’s (AMC) for his significant contributions to the maritime industry, as well as the AMC Baird Publication Prize for Best Performance in Navigation Studies, He is also the recipient of the Sheikh Rashid Award for Academic Excellence. In 2012, he was named Young Personality of the Year at the Seatrade Middle East and Indian Subcontinent Awards has been ranked number 1 in the Logistics News Middle East CEO Power List in 2018, 2020 and 2021.

Captain Al Shamisi has been recently selected by Forbes as one of the top CEOs in the Middle East.

Ms. Maitha Al Marar is the Group Chief Human Resource Officer at AD Ports Group, the master developer of ports and industrial zones in Abu Dhabi, UAE, an organisation that is becoming a globally recognised player and enabler of logistics and trade.  

With over 18 years of experience in Human Resources, Ms. Al Marar is known for her ambitious and innovative approach in identifying strategic priorities, implementing HR best practices, and driving positive change within organisations. During her career, her strong leadership is evident in successfully spearheading several strategic HR initiatives - including redesigning of HR functions, optimising the HR business-partnering model, developing models for talent & succession and performance management, and leading a major organisational restructuring due to expansion and acquisition. 

Her efforts have resulted in several accolades. In 2018, her team received an Excellence Award for Best Corporate Support function. Under her leadership, AD Ports Group obtained the prestigious Investor in People (IIP) Platinum Accreditation in 2019 (the First organisation in the Middle East) and is amongst the 1% of platinum IIP accredited organisations worldwide. This accomplishment demonstrates her continual commitment to creating a positive work environment, and focus on people development and well-being

Ms. Al Marar is the Vice Chairperson of the Emiratisation Committee in AD Ports Group and in 2015 she was the first Emirati female professional to address the HR Tech World Congress in Paris.  her presentation on “Capitalisation of local talents” detailed AD Ports Group’ Emiratisation success story with the world at a prominent international conference.

She is also a member of the Women’s Steering Committee, and Excellence Higher Committee.  Before joining AD Ports Group in 2008, Ms. Al Marar supported the HR function in several key entities in Abu Dhabi including the Commercial Building Department and Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (ADNEC).

Ms. Al Marar is certified in Human Resources Practice from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) and also got the Certification of the “Director Development Program” from Hawkamah & Mudara Institute of Directors. She is well-versed and adept in strategic HR, innovation strategy, coaching, operational excellence, and performance evaluation.  Ms. Al Marar has a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Studies and she is currently pursuing her Master’s Degree in Business Psychology. Her goals is to implement best practice with the use of social scientific research and findings to make people and organisations more effective and innovative. 

Martin Aarup is the Group Chief Financial Officer.

He has more than 20 years of international experience in senior management positions in various countries, industries and segment across B2B, B2C, as well as services and manufacturing companies.

Before joining the Group , Martin Aarup spent three years as Head of Global Finance Operations for the Marquard & Bahls Group based in Hamburg. Prior to this, from 2011 to 2016, he was the Group CFO of Oiltanking Group.

In his early career, Martin Aarup started as a management trainee in Nordea, before joining A.P. Moller – Maersk, where he worked in various finance management and leadership roles, primarily in Asia Pacific over a 10-year period.

Martin Aarup graduated from Copenhagen Business School in Denmark with a double major in Economics and Business Administration Degree as well as Finance and Credit. Additionally, he has completed several leadership programmes from institutions such as IMD in Switzerland.

Ross Thompson is the Group Chief Strategy and Growth Officer.

He joined the Company in 2016 as Vice President of Commercial and Business Development in the Ports Cluster and was appointed to t his current role in January 2017.

During his career, Ross Thompson has worked for leading international companies in the maritime industry, such as the Peel Ports Group and American President Lines.

Ross Thompson has a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Business and Languages from Plymouth University, UK.

He also has an Executive Management Diploma from Singapore Management University and an Executive Diploma in Maritime Economics and Supply Chain from Erasmus University in Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

Emil Pellicer has more than 23 years of experience in the legal profession.

Emil Pellicer sits on the boards of several of the Company's subsidiaries and joint ventures, including KIZAD, MICCO and Abu Dhabi Ports Operating and Logistic Company, LLC.

Prior to joining the Company, Emil Pellicer spent seven years (2003 – 2010) as a full-time counsel for Allen & Overy LLP with a focus on infrastructure projects in the MENA region across a wide variety of sectors, including ports, oil and gas and utilities.

From 1998 – 2003, Emil Pellicer was based in Toronto Canada, working as an associate for Torys LLP. 

Emil Pellicer holds Joint Honours bachelor's and master's degrees in Political Science and a Bachelor of Law and Bachelor of Civil Law degree from McGill University, Canada. He is a member of the Law Society of Ontario.

Abdullah Al Hameli is the Chief Executive Officer of the Economic Cities & Free Zones Cluster , holding more than 15 years of experience in different industries, including Human Resources and Administration, Maritime Trade, Finance and Corporate Operations and Services.

Prior to his current role, Abdullah Al Hameli served as Acting Executive Director of the Finance and Administration Affairs Sector, and as Advisor to the Chairman of the DMT. Prior to joining the DMT, he was the Acting CEO of ADT.

In his previous roles within AD Ports Group , Abdullah Al Hameli also served as Vice President - Human Resources & Emiratisation. He has also worked in the Human Resources and General Services sector at IRSHAD. Abdullah Al Hameli holds a bachelor's degree in Economics from Portland State University, USA, and a master's degree in Strategic and Security Studies from the UAE National Defense College.

Dr. Noura Al Dhaheri is the Chief Executive Officer of the Digital Cluster and CEO – Maqta Gateway.

She has led Maqta Gateway from its establishment in 2014. Dr. Al Dhaheri is committed to social, environmental, technological and educational programmes.

She serves as Vice President of the Emirates Digital Women Association.

Dr. Noura also served as Chairwoman of the Group’s first Women Committee from 2016 through 2018. 

Dr. Al Dhaheri holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Software Engineering from the UAE University and a Master of Science degree in Engineering Systems and Management as well as a PhD in Interdisciplinary Engineering from Masdar Institute and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA.

Saif Al Mazrouei is the Chief Executive Officer of the Ports Cluster and has over 20 years of experience in ports and across the shipping and retail industries.

Prior to his current role, Saif Al Mazrouei was Chief Operating Officer at Khalifa Port Container Terminal. Before that he worked at ADT as Execution Manager.

Before joining ADT, he also served as a Board member and Community Relations and Communications Director at Al Habtoor Group and before that he worked in various roles at Union Cooperative Society and DP World.

Saif Al Mazrouei holds a Bachelor of Science degree and a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in Geography from Beirut Arab University, Lebanon.

Farook Al Zeer is the Chairman of the Logistics Cluster at AD Ports Group. In his role as Chairman, Al Zeer oversees the development and operations of AD Ports Group’s Logistics portfolio which today comprises a fleet of more than 400 vehicles. He is responsible for working with clients and partners to meet their business requirements and create value-driven relationships.

A 40-year veteran in the logistics and freight forwarding sector across the MENA region, Al Zeer has a proven track record of delivering substantial results in growth, revenue, and tonnage throughout his career, including senior positions with supply chain management leader DB Schenker and global transport company Kuehne + Nagel.

Al Zeer is also a former board member of the International Exhibition Logistics Association (ILEA), founder and board member of Abu Dhabi freight forwarders association, founding member of NAFL Dubai, board member of the Jordan Business Council, as well as the founder and former member of the Aviation Logistics Network (ALN). 

Captain Ammar Mubarak Al Shaiba is the Acting CEO of the Maritime Cluster and SAFEEN Group, part of AD Ports Group. In his role, he leads the development of marine services, shipping operations and assets, including eleven (11) operational units comprising more than 135 vessels and marine units.

Joining the organisation back in 2013 in Harbour Master Division, Capt. Al Shaiba was promoted to Khalifa Port Harbour Master at AD Ports Group’s flagship deepwater port as well as at Zayed Port, in addition to carrying out development and executive projects for Marine and Port operations in Khalifa Port, as part of the Group’s strategic expansion plan.

From 2017 to 2019, he held the position of Chief Harbour Master to oversee the development and implementation of regulations governing the safe navigation of vessels and managing fleet traffic within port waters and enforcing local, federal, and international best practices within commercial ports.

During his tenure with AD Ports Group, Capt. Al Shaiba has served as the CEO of Ports Operating Company and Managing Director of Zayed Port, the Free Port, as well as Musaffah Port, where he managed port optimisations and automation within operations while extending strategic growth within the Group’s operations. He also oversaw SAFEEN Feeders, a subsidiary of AD Ports Group that serves mainliner shipping clients and supports trade through increased connectivity and optimised shipping costs within and beyond the region.

He holds a Professional Master of Business Administration (PMBA) and an Advanced Diploma in Nautical Science from the University of Tasmania in Australia. Capt. Al Shaiba also holds a Chief Mate/Master Certificate from the Australian Maritime College (AMC) issued by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA). He is a member of the International Harbour Masters Association (IHMA), the International Association of Ports & Harbours (IAPH) and several other respected committees within the Maritime industry.