Leadership & governance

Ms. Lootah has been a director of Taaleem since 2022 and has over 20 years of experience in the financial industry and UAE government sector. She is the Group Deputy Chief Executive Officer at National Bonds Corporation, a multi-asset class investment with multiple geographical allocations. Ms. Lootah also serves on the executive board for several key entities in the UAE, including Noqodi, a UAE-based e-wallet that is dedicated towards e-payments for governmental and non-governmental services, and Dubai Quality Group, a non-profit organisation set up by the Dubai Economy. Ms. Lootah also spearheaded both the Tamaiaz Award and Entrepreneurs Forum, which shed light on the successes of the UAE’s youth. Ms. Lootah has been the recipient of numerous prestigious awards, including the late His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Award, and is also the world’s first woman recipient of the CIMA certification in Islamic Finance. Ms. Lootah holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from UAE University, UAE, and an MBA from Stratford University, United States.

Dr. Azzam has been a director of Taaleem since 2023 and was one of its founding members. Dr.Azzam served as Taaleem’s Chief Executive Officer for 10 years until 2013. Previously, he was the Head of an international school in Dubai and was a consultant at McKinsey & Company. Currently, Dr.Azzam sits on two boards in Taaleem and advises schools and colleges in the public sector. Dr. Azzam holds two bachelor’s degrees in Physics and Electrical Engineering and a master’s degree in Theoretical Physics from the MassachusettsInstitute of Technology (MIT), United States. Dr.Azzam also earned his Doctorate in Education from the University of Bath, United Kingdom.

His Excellency has been a director of Taaleem since 2022. He also serves as Chief Executive Officer of the Dubai government’s Knowledge Fund Establishment and is a board member of the Oversight Committee at Emirates NBD REIT. He previously served as the Chief Executive Officer of the Dubai International Financial Centre Authority and the Chief Executive Officer of the Dubai Islamic Economy Development Centre. He also previously served as a member of the board of other listed companies in the UAE, such as Emaar Development PJSC, and served on various boards, committees, and councils in Dubai, including the Economic Committee of the Executive Council of the Emirate of Dubai, the Dubai Free Zones Council, Borse Dubai, the Investment Committee of the ENBD REIT, and the Emirates International Accreditation Center. His Excellency holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Colorado, United States. He is also a graduate of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Programme for Leadership Development, a Dubai government-run executive education programme for executives in the public and private sectors in Dubai.

Mr. Al Zarouni has been a director of Taaleem since its inception in 2004 and is one of its founders. He is also Taaleem’s Vice Chairman and Chairman of its Executive Committee of the Group. Mr. Al Zarouni has extensive experience serving as a board member of several public and private joint stock companies within the Middle East region. In addition, Mr. Al Zarouni is the managing partner and founder of Rivoli Group, one of the largest Middle East luxury retailers in the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, and Oman; the Vice Chairman of the National General Insurance Company, one of the largest insurance companies in the UAE; and the Vice Chairman of Emirates Golf ederation. Mr. Al Zarouni is also the secretary general of the Arab Golf Federation and a board member of the UAE National Olympic Committee. Mr. Al Zarouni holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance from the University of Central Florida, United States.

His Excellency has been a director of Taaleem since its inception in 2004. His Excellency Helal Saeed Al Marri also serves as the Director General of Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism. He is a member of Dubai Council, The Executive Council of Dubai, a member of the Board of Directors of the Investment Corporation of Dubai, Director General of the Dubai World Trade Centre Authority (DWTCA). His Excellency is Chairman of Dubai Financial Market, member of The Higher Committee for Supervision of the Expo 2020 Dubai District, and a board member at the Dubai Chambers and Emirates Nature – WWF. His Excellency’s responsibilities span enhancing Dubai’s positioning as the preferred destination for investment, business, and leisure and developing and strengthening the Emirate’s economy.His Excellency holds a master of business administration (MBA) from the London Business School (LBS). Al Marri is a Chartered Accountant from the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, and he previously worked at consulting firms McKinsey and KPMG.

Mr. Al Shaibani has been a director of Taaleem since 2021 and heads the family office of Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group, a UAE-based conglomerate with 27 companies representing over 370 international brands. Mr. Al Shaibani serves as a board member of the Knowledge Fund Establishment and is a member of the investment committee of National Bonds Corporation. Mr. Al Shaibani previously worked at Investment Corporation of Dubai (ICD), the investment arm of the Government of Dubai, where he covered real estate investments in the UAE and globally, including the ICD-Brookfield joint venture, a partnership with Brookfield Asset Management. Mr. Al Shaibani holds a Bachelor of Science inFinance from Bentley University, United States, and an MBA from the London Business School, United Kingdom.

Mr. Al Khayyat has been a director of Taaleem since its inception in 2004 and was one of its founding members. Mr. Al Khayyat is the Managing Director of Al Khayyat Investments, a diversified family business based in Dubai. He also cofounded Transmak, a construction equipment leasing company, and continues to serve on its board of directors. Mr. Al Khayyat is President of Sun in Motion, a solar PV contracting, operations, and maintenance company he founded in 2017. He also set up four separate renewable energy investment platforms in Riyadh (KSA), Abu Dhabi Global Markets (UAE), Bahrain (Bahrain), and in the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (UAE) under the name Three Eight Six, and he is a 50% owner of Realty Enterprises, which owns and leases commercial and retail spaces. Mr. Al Khayyat holds a Bachelor of Science in Monetary Economics from the London School of Economics, United Kingdom, and a postgraduate degree in International and Development Economics from Yale University, United States.

Commercially strategic, technically proficient CFO with 25+ years’ financial management, business analysis and project management experience. Expertise spans leading organisational restructures, streamlining processes to drive cost and service efficiency, and improving governance and profitability across $MM organisations.

Extensive experience in preparing business cases, cost benefit analysis, financial evaluations, project managing M&As and managing organisational change and development. Comfortable working in high change business environments with a ‘hands-on’ style of management. Enjoys communicating in Arabic, English, and French to present to Boards and works in partnership with management teams. Vast experience of leading, developing and inspiring cross-functional teams to deliver best practice performance in highly regulated, high change environments.

Dr. Azzam has been a director of Taaleem since 2023 and was one of its founding members. Dr.Azzam served as Taaleem’s Chief Executive Officer for 10 years until 2013. Previously, he was the Head of an international school in Dubai and was a consultant at McKinsey & Company. Currently, Dr.Azzam sits on two boards in Taaleem and advises schools and colleges in the public sector. Dr. Azzam holds two bachelor’s degrees in Physics and Electrical Engineering and a master’s degree in Theoretical Physics from the MassachusettsInstitute of Technology (MIT), United States. Dr.Azzam also earned his Doctorate in Education from the University of Bath, United Kingdom.

Ms. Lootah has been a director of Taaleem since 2022 and has over 20 years of experience in the financial industry and UAE government sector. She is the Group Deputy Chief Executive Officer at National Bonds Corporation, a multi-asset class investment with multiple geographical allocations. Ms. Lootah also serves on the executive board for several key entities in the UAE, including Noqodi, a UAE-based e-wallet that is dedicated towards e-payments for governmental and non-governmental services, and Dubai Quality Group, a non-profit organisation set up by the Dubai Economy. Ms. Lootah also spearheaded both the Tamaiaz Award and Entrepreneurs Forum, which shed light on the successes of the UAE’s youth. Ms. Lootah has been the recipient of numerous prestigious awards, including the late His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Award, and is also the world’s first woman recipient of the CIMA certification in Islamic Finance. Ms. Lootah holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from UAE University, UAE, and an MBA from Stratford University, United States.

Commercially strategic, technically proficient CFO with 25+ years’ financial management, business analysis and project management experience. Expertise spans leading organisational restructures, streamlining processes to drive cost and service efficiency, and improving governance and profitability across $MM organisations.

Extensive experience in preparing business cases, cost benefit analysis, financial evaluations, project managing M&As and managing organisational change and development. Comfortable working in high change business environments with a ‘hands-on’ style of management. Enjoys communicating in Arabic, English, and French to present to Boards and works in partnership with management teams. Vast experience of leading, developing and inspiring cross-functional teams to deliver best practice performance in highly regulated, high change environments.

His Excellency has been a director of Taaleem since 2022. He also serves as Chief Executive Officer of the Dubai government’s Knowledge Fund Establishment and is a board member of the Oversight Committee at Emirates NBD REIT. He previously served as the Chief Executive Officer of the Dubai International Financial Centre Authority and the Chief Executive Officer of the Dubai Islamic Economy Development Centre. He also previously served as a member of the board of other listed companies in the UAE, such as Emaar Development PJSC, and served on various boards, committees, and councils in Dubai, including the Economic Committee of the Executive Council of the Emirate of Dubai, the Dubai Free Zones Council, Borse Dubai, the Investment Committee of the ENBD REIT, and the Emirates International Accreditation Center. His Excellency holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Colorado, United States. He is also a graduate of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Programme for Leadership Development, a Dubai government-run executive education programme for executives in the public and private sectors in Dubai.

Ms. Lootah has been a director of Taaleem since 2022 and has over 20 years of experience in the financial industry and UAE government sector. She is the Group Deputy Chief Executive Officer at National Bonds Corporation, a multi-asset class investment with multiple geographical allocations. Ms. Lootah also serves on the executive board for several key entities in the UAE, including Noqodi, a UAE-based e-wallet that is dedicated towards e-payments for governmental and non-governmental services, and Dubai Quality Group, a non-profit organisation set up by the Dubai Economy. Ms. Lootah also spearheaded both the Tamaiaz Award and Entrepreneurs Forum, which shed light on the successes of the UAE’s youth. Ms. Lootah has been the recipient of numerous prestigious awards, including the late His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Award, and is also the world’s first woman recipient of the CIMA certification in Islamic Finance. Ms. Lootah holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from UAE University, UAE, and an MBA from Stratford University, United States.

Shahid Hameed is an accomplished investment leader with over 30 years of experience managing multi-asset, multi-billion-dollar portfolios across the GCC. He currently serves as Group Chief Investment Officer (CIO) at National Bonds Corporation, overseeing USD 4.6 billion in diversified assets. A CFA charterholder, he has held senior CIO and executive roles at Samba Capital, Musharaka, Swicorp, and Global Investment House. Mr. Hameed brings deep financial expertise, strong governance capabilities, and extensive board-level experience.