Tarek Hajjiri

Dr. Tarek Hajjiri has over 25 years of international experience both in private and public sectors (Middle East, GCC, United States and Canada), working closely with international organizations such as the World Bank, IMF, EX-IM Banks, UNDP, INSOL, UNCITRAL, World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and many others.

Dr. Hajjiri held senior leading government positions in the UAE during the years 2008 – September 2023 including Senior Vice President for the Legal Affairs at Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and Commissioner of Intellectual Property when he was appointed in January 2020 by His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and President of the DIFC. In addition to his two positions with the DIFC, he established and became the first Chief Executive Officer for the DIFC Family Wealth Centre leading over 2.3 trillion US dollars of private wealth.

Prior to these roles, Dr. Hajjiri was heavily involved in public policy advocacy where he was appointed as the Director of Legal Policy and Chairman of Corporate Social Responsibility at Dubai Economic Council, Government of Dubai. In this capacity, he was responsible for legal and regulatory policies at both local and federal levels focusing on advancing Dubai and UAE competitiveness including financial and economic free zones and its impact on Dubai’s economy. He has participated in the development of various legal strategies for both public and private sectors and worked closely with local and federal departments. In addition, Dr. Hajjiri contributed to the development of key economic and social legislations, including UAE Commercial Companies Law, Family-owned Businesses, Intellectual Property & Innovation, SMEs, Foreign Direct Investment, Corporate Governance, Bankruptcy and Labor Law and others.

In 2022, Dr. Hajjiri was appointed by the well-known French Organisation Le Groupement Du Patronat Francophone in France, as the Senior Representative for the United Arab Emirates.

Dr. Tarek Hajjiri held other senior positions at the private sector including senior positions in law firms as well as Chief Legal Officer for large family-owned businesses, General Counsel as well as board member in private and publicly listed companies. Dr. Hajjiri has passion to sharing knowledge where he teaches at the American University in Dubai focusing on intellectual property and entrepreneurship.

Dr. Tarek Hajjiri earned his Master’s degree in Intellectual Property Law and his PhD in Commercial Law – Family Owned Businesses. He is a registered and licensed arbitrator and Mediator and has published many books with well-known world class publishers such as Palgrave Macmillan on bankruptcy and financial restructuring, family businesses, Small and medium Enterprises, Intellectual Property (IP) rights and recently published the first book of its kind on regulating family businesses and private wealth which was officially launched by the UAE Ministry of Economy, HE Minister Abdullah Bin Touq, Minister of Economy. He has achieved a number of professional excellence awards as well as recognitions for supporting innovation and entrepreneurship.