Board of Directors

Mr Omar A. Al Futtaim

CHAIRMAN

Mr Fadi Hammadeh

Fadi Hammadeh has been the General Counsel of Al-Futtaim Group since 2009 where he oversees legal, corporate governance, risk management, education, CSR and corporate communications functions. He has been practicing law in the UAE for more than two decades and before that worked in Damascus, Paris and London. Fadi has authored a book in 2018 titled ‘Family Business Continuity in the Middle East & Muslim World: Betting against the Odds’. He teaches law at the Sorbonne University in Dubai and holds a LLB in law from Damascus University, three LLMs from Paris II-Assas, Paris I- Sorbonne, LLM and London University and most recently completed a MSc in Psychology & Neuroscience of Mental Health at King’s College in London.

Mr Edward Quinlan

Edward Quinlan has lived in the Arabian Gulf for a number of decades. He was UAE managing partner of a Big 4 accountancy firm until his retirement in 2010. Edward is a chartered accountant and is currently Chairman of the ICAEW Middle East Members' Advisory Board. He is also a non-executive director of one of the largest privately-owned groups in the Middle East and a number of its subsidiaries. He has served on a pro bono basis on boards or audit committees of several not for profit organisations including the Rotary Club of Dubai, Capital Club of Dubai, Cass Business School, Dubai Classical Concert Committee, International Cricket Council and Jersey Finance Middle East. He is currently on the boards of Al Futtaim Education Foundation, Deira International School and Universal American School, in addition to serving as Chairman of Dubai College, all of which are not-for-profit organisations.

Ms Mira Al Futtaim

Mira Al Futtaim is the Chief Future of Education Officer at Al-Futtaim School Management Company. She is also a board member of the Al Futtaim Education Foundation (AFEF), where her focus lies in people, technology and the learning environment. She has been appointed by H.H. the Ruler of Dubai to the board of trustees of Zayed University. As a representative of the fourth generation of this privately-owned business, Mira Al Futtaim is dedicated to ensuring excellence in teaching and learning as a standard practice. She is committed to aligning classroom delivery with recent trends in academia, social behaviour, and the future readiness of students. Mira Al Futtaim actively seeks partnerships with external providers whose programs and offerings complement and augment the aspirations of the Foundation. One of her main advocacies is promoting a balance between modernity and the preservation of local heritage in schools. Mira Al Futtaim also holds the position as the Chairperson of the Emiratisation Council for the Al-Futtaim Group, one of the most progressive regional family business conglomerates, head-quartered in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, in addition to being a board member of the Emirati Human Resources Development Council in Dubai. Mira Al Futtaim holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Smith College 2014.

Dr Farah Sarraj

Dr Farah Sarraj is the Chief Corporate Officer at Al-Futtaim School Management Company. She is also a board member of the Al Futtaim Education Foundation and Director of the Centre for Excellence in Arabic. Her advocacies include bilingual education, raising the profile of Arabic as a language for thought and life, global citizenship and openness to new ways of living and thinking that contribute to improving the human condition. Dr Sarraj held several senior leadership roles in the UK before she moved to the UAE in 2011 to serve on the senior leadership team of a start-up school in the northern emirate of Ajman. She then moved to Ajman University, where she lectured in the College of Education at undergraduate and post-graduate levels. Dr Sarraj holds an MA and PhD in English Literature/Early Women’s Writing from the University of Manchester, a PGCE at Brunel University, London and will soon complete an MSc in Educational Leadership from the University of Portsmouth. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society for Arts.

Mr Chandy Jacob

SECRETARY TO THE BOARD

Chandy Jacob has been a key member of the Al-Futtaim Group since 2012, where he has leveraged his extensive experience in the auto industry and international markets to drive strategic growth. Prior to his tenure at Al-Futtaim, Chandy spent over a decade in the Middle East automotive sector, gaining invaluable exposure to diverse markets and customers. Before making his mark in the Middle East, Chandy built a solid career foundation in India, where he held senior roles at multinational corporations like Philips and Citizen. Over a span of 20 years, he worked across a variety of departments, including accounting, sales, and marketing, ultimately shaping him into a business generalist. Chandy holds an MBA from one of India's leading business schools, further solidifying his expertise in the world of business and management.