25 Leadership and Capability Leaders in the UAE
Last updated: 20 August 2026
The UAE's biggest employers are building capability while markets, technology and workforce expectations keep changing. This directory brings together 25 people whose public roles sit close to leadership, talent, learning, culture, human capital and organisational change.
The list spans banking, aviation, energy, technology, logistics, real estate, education, hospitality, retail, government and professional services. It is designed as a practical starting point for understanding who is shaping people and leadership work inside major UAE organisations.
Senior roles can change, so the linked employer source remains the best final check before a time-sensitive introduction.
Why leadership and capability leaders matter
Leadership development is rarely only a course catalogue. The people responsible for it often work across talent pipelines, succession, culture, Emiratisation, performance, learning, organisational design and the everyday habits that help leaders make better decisions.
That mix matters in the UAE, where employers are growing across sectors while also building national capability and preparing people for a more digital economy. The profiles below show how those priorities appear in real roles and programmes.
1. Homaid Al Shimmari
Deputy Group CEO and Chief Corporate & Human Capital Officer, Mubadala
Homaid Al Shimmari is Deputy Group CEO and Chief Corporate & Human Capital Officer at Mubadala, based in Abu Dhabi. Mubadala's people remit connects human capital with investment scale and national capability.
Mubadala identifies Homaid Al Shimmari as responsible for career growth, talent acquisition, learning and development, performance and Emiratisation. Read the source page.
2. Dr Nadia Bastaki
Chief People & Corporate Affairs Officer, Etihad Airways
Dr Nadia Bastaki is Chief People & Corporate Affairs Officer at Etihad Airways, based in Abu Dhabi. Her portfolio brings people leadership together with government and corporate affairs inside a major airline group.
Etihad's leadership material identifies Dr Nadia Bastaki as Chief People, Government and Corporate Affairs Officer of Etihad Aviation Group. Read the source page.
3. Yousuf Bin Lahej Al Falasi
Vice President, Emiratisation and Government Partnerships, Emirates Group
Yousuf Bin Lahej Al Falasi is Vice President, Emiratisation and Government Partnerships at Emirates Group, based in Dubai. His work sits at the intersection of national talent, public partnerships and a large aviation workforce.
An Emirates Group leadership asset identifies Yousuf Bin Lahej Al Falasi as Vice President, Emiratisation and Government Partnerships. Read the source page.
4. Amira Al Falasi
Senior Vice President, HR Emirates Group Training & Development, Emirates Group
Amira Al Falasi is Senior Vice President, HR Emirates Group Training & Development at Emirates Group, based in Dubai. Training and development is a distinct senior portfolio in a business where operational capability directly affects customer experience.
An Emirates Group senior appointments announcement identifies Amira Al Falasi as Senior Vice President, Training and Development. Read the source page.
5. Eman Abdulrazzaq
Group Chief Human Resources Officer, Emirates NBD
Eman Abdulrazzaq is Group Chief Human Resources Officer at Emirates NBD, based in Dubai. The Ruwad programme gives her role a visible link to building the bank's next generation of leaders.
Emirates NBD's Ruwad announcement identifies Eman Abdulrazzaq as Group Chief Human Resources Officer and describes a two-year leadership development journey. Read the source page.
6. Farida Mohammad Rafi
Chief Human Resources Officer, Emirates Islamic
Farida Mohammad Rafi is Chief Human Resources Officer at Emirates Islamic, based in Dubai. Her remit shows how people leadership is being framed as part of the employee experience, not only an internal service.
Emirates Islamic identifies Farida Mohammad Rafi as Chief Human Resources Officer and links employee experience with culture and leadership. Read the source page.
7. Bushra Al Shehhi
Group Chief Human Resources Officer, Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank
Bushra Al Shehhi is Group Chief Human Resources Officer at Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, based in Abu Dhabi. ADIB's development programmes and Emiratisation work make her a strong example of banking leadership tied to national talent pipelines.
ADIB's executive committee lists Bushra Al Shehhi as Group Chief HR Officer and Chairman of Kawader. Read the source page.
8. Hamda Al Shamali
Chief People and Intellectual Capital Officer, Mashreq
Hamda Al Shamali is Chief People and Intellectual Capital Officer at Mashreq, based in Dubai. The title itself captures a useful shift from traditional HR language towards people, knowledge and organisational capability.
Mashreq's management page places Hamda Al Shamali in the Chief People and Intellectual Capital Officer role. Read the source page.
9. Fatima Al Afeefi
Chief People & Impact Officer (Acting), du
Fatima Al Afeefi is Chief People & Impact Officer (Acting) at du, based in Dubai. The acting title is retained because it is the wording used in the employer's public announcement.
du's people-awards announcement identifies Fatima Al Afeefi as Chief People & Impact Officer (Acting). Read the source page.
10. Ali Al Mansoori
Group Chief People & Culture Officer, e&
Ali Al Mansoori is Group Chief People & Culture Officer at e&, based in Abu Dhabi. His portfolio makes the culture and capability link explicit at a large technology and telecommunications group.
e& identifies Ali Al Mansoori as Group Chief People & Culture Officer, with responsibility spanning talent, learning and organisational development. Read the source page.
11. Smaël Auam
Group Chief People Officer, DP World
Smaël Auam is Group Chief People Officer at DP World, based in Dubai. A global logistics network gives this role a useful view of how leadership systems travel across markets.
DP World says Smaël Auam leads global people strategy, including leadership development, organisational performance and cultural evolution. Read the source page.
12. Marwan Al Jassmi
Executive Vice President, People & Sustainability, DP World GCC, DP World
Marwan Al Jassmi is Executive Vice President, People & Sustainability, DP World GCC at DP World, based in Dubai. His role combines people systems with sustainability in a regionally focused operating portfolio.
DP World describes Marwan Al Jassmi's remit as human capital strategy, organisational development, talent management and workforce planning for the GCC. Read the source page.
13. Bayan Al Hosani
Group Chief People and Communications Officer, Aldar
Bayan Al Hosani is Group Chief People and Communications Officer at Aldar, based in Abu Dhabi. Aldar's people agenda links attraction, development and retention with the growth of a major real estate group.
Aldar's current leadership page lists Bayan Al Hosani as Group Chief People and Communications Officer. Read the source page.
14. Shorouk Al Redha
Chief People Officer, Aldar Education
Shorouk Al Redha is Chief People Officer at Aldar Education, based in Abu Dhabi. In a school group, capability work has a direct connection to educators, leaders and the quality of student experience.
Aldar Education says Shorouk Al Redha joined in April 2024 as Chief People Officer to lead the People Agenda and Strategy. Read the source page.
15. Shaloo Kakkar Kulkarni
Chief People Officer, Masdar
Shaloo Kakkar Kulkarni is Chief People Officer at Masdar, based in Abu Dhabi. Her portfolio shows why the energy transition needs leadership and people systems alongside technical capability.
Masdar describes Shaloo Kakkar Kulkarni's remit as human capital strategy, high-performance culture, talent development and organisational transformation. Read the source page.
16. Sultan Al Ghaithi
Group Chief Human Resources Officer, AD Ports Group
Sultan Al Ghaithi is Group Chief Human Resources Officer at AD Ports Group, based in Abu Dhabi. His portfolio sits close to the workforce and skills questions facing a major transport and logistics group.
An AD Ports Group youth partnership announcement identifies Sultan Al Ghaithi as Group Chief HR Officer, Human Capital & Emiratisation. Read the source page.
17. Frederic Chardot
Chief Human Resources Officer, Jumeirah Group
Frederic Chardot is Chief Human Resources Officer at Jumeirah Group, based in Dubai. Hospitality makes the link between leadership behaviour, employee experience and guest experience especially visible.
Jumeirah's leadership page says Frederic Chardot leads talent acquisition, employee engagement and organisational development. Read the source page.
18. David Henderson
Group Director, Human Resources, Al-Futtaim
David Henderson is Group Director, Human Resources at Al-Futtaim, based in Dubai. His public work also connects career development, skill building, Emiratisation and the challenge of leading a diverse workforce.
Al-Futtaim's current leadership page lists David Henderson as Group Director, Human Resources and describes his human capital experience. Read the source page.
19. Viviana Alberu
Chief Human Capital Officer, Majid Al Futtaim
Viviana Alberu is Chief Human Capital Officer at Majid Al Futtaim, based in Dubai. Her remit offers a clear example of people strategy operating across a large consumer and community-facing portfolio.
Majid Al Futtaim identifies Viviana Alberu as Chief Human Capital Officer and says she is responsible for human capital strategy across its workforce. Read the source page.
20. Maymee Kurian
Group Chief Augmented Human Capital Officer, G42
Maymee Kurian is Group Chief Augmented Human Capital Officer at G42, based in Abu Dhabi. The augmented human capital title reflects the changing relationship between people, technology and work design.
G42 describes Maymee Kurian's experience across organisation design, strategic talent, performance management and HR and culture transformation. Read the source page.
21. Meshari Al Bannai
Chief People Officer, Dubai Airports
Meshari Al Bannai is Chief People Officer at Dubai Airports, based in Dubai. In aviation infrastructure, culture and development systems have to support both scale and operational reliability.
Dubai Airports says Meshari Al Bannai shapes its culture and the systems, processes and development programmes supporting the airport operator's vision. Read the source page.
22. Abdulaziz Almoosa
Group Chief Human Resources Officer, Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank
Abdulaziz Almoosa is Group Chief Human Resources Officer at Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, based in Abu Dhabi. His remit makes career mobility and learning a visible part of high-performance culture in banking.
ADCB says Abdulaziz Almoosa was appointed Group Chief Human Resources Officer in 2024 and is responsible for human capital strategy, career pathways and learning. Read the source page.
23. Fatma Hussain
Group Chief People Officer, Dubai Holding
Fatma Hussain is Group Chief People Officer at Dubai Holding, based in Dubai. The emphasis on culture and empowerment gives this role a clear organisational development dimension.
Dubai Holding says Fatma Hussain leads the Group's effort to foster a people-driven culture that empowers employees. Read the source page.
24. Shaikha Murad AlBlooshi
Chief People Officer, Etihad Water and Electricity
Shaikha Murad AlBlooshi is Chief People Officer at Etihad Water and Electricity, based in Dubai. A newly established senior people role can be a signal that an organisation is formalising its capability and culture work.
Etihad Water and Electricity announced Shaikha Murad AlBlooshi as Chief People Officer in May 2025 as part of a refreshed leadership structure. Read the source page.
25. Mohamed Al Ameeri
Chief Human Resources Officer, National Bank of Fujairah
Mohamed Al Ameeri is Chief Human Resources Officer at National Bank of Fujairah, based in Fujairah. His appointment places people leadership close to the bank's transformation and national workforce priorities.
NBF announced Mohamed Al Ameeri as Chief Human Resources Officer in August 2025, highlighting organisational transformation, talent development and Emiratisation. Read the source page.
What this directory shows about leadership development in the UAE
Reading the profiles together, three patterns stand out. First, leadership development is increasingly connected with culture, talent, workforce planning, Emiratisation, employee experience and organisational transformation rather than treated as a standalone training function.
Second, the strongest development work is connected to a real pathway. The public material points to high-potential programmes, executive mentoring, cross-functional assignments, career development, national talent initiatives and learning opportunities. Those structures give people a chance to practise leadership in work that matters.
Third, the role is being reshaped by change. Artificial intelligence, new business models, growth across markets and the need to build local capability are changing what employers need from their leaders. The people in this directory sit where those pressures become practical choices about skills, culture and behaviour.
How to use this list
Use the directory as a starting point for careful outreach or further research. Begin with the role and employer source beside each name, then check the employer's current page before sending a message or relying on a title.
If you are designing a leadership programme, compare the patterns across sectors and ask which capability, pathway or behaviour your own organisation is actually trying to build.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many full profiles are in this directory?
There are 25 full profiles. The companion post has a wider pool of 50 names for manual review.
How is the list organised?
The numbering is only for easy reference. It is not a measure of seniority, quality or employer size.
Does every person work in a training department?
No. Leadership development can sit inside people, talent, culture, learning, human capital, organisational development or a related portfolio.
Can I assume every role is permanent?
No. Where the source uses an acting title, this directory keeps that wording. Check the source again before relying on a role for something time-sensitive.
How current is the list?
The sources were checked or searched in August 2026. Employer leadership changes can happen quickly, so use each linked source as the final check.
Conclusion
The people in this directory show how broad leadership development has become inside major UAE employers. It now touches talent pipelines, learning, culture, performance, organisational design, Emiratisation, employee experience and the ability to lead through technological change.
Use the names as a practical starting point, not as a final answer. Good development work begins with a clear organisational need and a real chance for people to practise what they are learning.
Related Reading
For related leadership work, see Leadership Development, Organisational Development, and Consult Clarity.
A note for leaders navigating change
If your leadership team is growing quickly, navigating change or trying to build stronger habits of ownership, I help leaders turn big ideas into practical work people can use on Monday morning. You can contact Jonno White at jonno@consultclarity.org to discuss a keynote, workshop or facilitated leadership session.
About the Author
Jonno White is an Australian leadership consultant, keynote speaker and Certified Working Genius Facilitator. He helps leaders build organisations people would move cities to work at, with practical work that lasts beyond the session.