Ahmad Abdulkarim Mohammad Julfar

Ahmad Abdulkarim Mohammad Julfar was elected Chairman of Commercial Bank of Dubai in March 2024. He brings over three decades of experience and has held leadership positions predominantly with the Etisalat Group in the UAE, culminating in his tenure as Chief Executive Officer. Julfar possesses extensive and diverse experience spanning 39 years in the banking sector and several other vital industries.

He currently serves as Managing Director with EITC (Du), and was appointed Director General of the Community Development Authority from 2016 to 2024. He joined CBD's Board of Directors since March 2018. He also holds chairman and director positions at Emirates Cable TV & Multimedia LLC, Knowledge Fund Establishment, and serves on boards including Etisalat DB Telecom India, Etisalat Misr, Smartstream Technologies, and Al Jalila Children's Speciality Hospital.

Julfar holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering and Computer Science from Gonzaga University in Washington, USA, and was one of the first graduates of the Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Establishment for Young Business Leaders in 2004. He was named Telecom Leader of the Year in 2014 by the Mobile World Congress and CEO of the Year (Telecom) 2013 by CEO Middle East. He served as Group Chief Executive Officer of Etisalat from July 2011 to March 2016, and held roles including Chairman of Thuraya Group and Etisalat Services Holding, as well as Deputy Chair of the GSM Association.

Career History

• Chairman, Commercial Bank of Dubai (March 2024–present)
• Director General, Community Development Authority (2016–2024)
• Director, Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company PJSC (March 2018–present)
• Group Chief Executive Officer, Etisalat (July 2011–March 2016)
• Chairman, Thuraya Group and Etisalat Services Holding; Deputy Chair, GSM Association

What Ahmad Julfar could bring to Commercial Bank of Dubai: Drawing from nearly four decades of telecom industry leadership and his extensive governance experience across banking and development sectors, Julfar is positioned to bring strategic transformation expertise, operational restructuring capability, and deep knowledge of UAE economic development initiatives to CBD's chairmanship. His track record of managing large multinational operations, international expansion across 19 markets, and successful stakeholder value creation suggests he can drive competitive positioning and sustainable growth for the bank during a period of regional digital financial transformation.