The U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council hosted Mohammed Sharaf, CEO of DP World, on May 27th for an exclusive briefing for its Founding Members on the global port operator’s current business and plans for future growth.   Mr. Sharaf traveled to the U.S. for meetings with New York and Boston-based investors and visited Washington specifically to meet with key members of the Business Council.

Committed to growing internationally using a local approach to individual markets, DP World now ranks fourth globally in shipping volume and operates 49 terminals in 27 countries across five continents.  DP World’s home port in Dubai, Jebel Ali, is the world’s largest manmade port and serves as the U.S. Navy’s largest service facility outside the U.S.  The port is surrounded by the Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZ), an industrial zone home to nearly 6,500 businesses, including a majority of the Fortune 500 manufacturing companies.  DP World’s ongoing investments in the JAFZ’s infrastructure, especially air and rail, continue to strengthen the zone’s appeal for foreign investors.

The shipping industry witnessed a decline during the economic crisis, but spurred by heavy demand from Asia, business has increased significantly in the first quarter of 2010.  DP World’s strong financial position leaves it poised to capture global opportunities for growth.  Mr. Sharaf emphasized that the company is focused on targeting commercially viable opportunities in non-saturated markets with considerable growth potential.  Currently, DP World is developing 12 new terminals worldwide.

Mr. Sharaf stressed the company’s commitment to safety and security, highlighting DP World’s state-of-the art technologies to ensure container security.  Mr. Sharaf reiterated DP World’s full cooperation with the international community and the U.S. regarding evolving policies toward Iran.  Mr. Sharaf’s Biography is below.

Mohammed Sharaf
Chief Executive Officer
DP World

Mohammed Sharaf is the first CEO of DP World, the global port operator formed in 2005 with the integration of the domestic and international arms of the Dubai Ports organization.

Mr. Sharaf has nearly two decades of experience in the transport and logistics business. He began his shipping career working at Holland Hook terminal in the Port of New York/New Jersey.  He joined Dubai Ports Authority (DPA) in 1992 and rose rapidly through the organization holding a number of senior positions at the Port of Dubai including Commercial Director and Managing Director, playing a central role in the extraordinary development of Dubai’s container terminals at Jebel Ali and Port Rashid, which combined have become a top ten global terminal facility.

In 2001, he became the first Managing Director of the newly established Dubai Ports International (DPI), the international ports management arm of Dubai Ports.  In this position he oversaw the successful application of Dubai’s port management model to its first international operations at the terminals of Jeddah (Saudi Arabia), Constanta (Romania) and Vizag (India).

Mr. Sharaf managed a major international growth strategy that included the successful acquisition of CSX WT in 2004 and of the P&O Group in 2006, making DP World one of the top terminal operators in the world with a multinational team of around 30,000 people and a network spanning five continents. Mr. Sharaf holds a Degree in Business Administration from the University of Arizona, Tucson.