Mohammed al-Zarooni

Position: CEO, Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority

Biography: Mohammed al-Zarooni is CEO of Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority, which runs the emirate’s technology-focused free zone. Al-Zarooni completed a doctorate in economic geography from the UK’s Durham University in 1994, after graduating with a master’s degree in the same subject from Emirates University in the UAE.

In 1995, he joined Dubai’s Department of Civil Aviation as director of administration and research before being appointed director-general of Dubai Airport Free Zone in 2000. He joined Dubai Silicon Oasis in 2002. It is wholly owned by the government of Dubai and covers 7.2 square kilometres, with specialised infrastructure for high-tech information technology firms.

This includes advanced telecommunications, a fibre-optic network, a data centre and eight power stations. Companies based in the free zone include Germany’s SAP, Japan’s Fujitsu and the US’ AMD.

Contact Tel: (+971) 4 501 5000
Website: www.dsoa.ae