Position
Director general
Index
Power List
Location
Dubai
Sector Focus
Tourism, Leisure & Hospitality
Helal Saeed al-Marri
Spear’s Review
Dubai has long styled itself as a crossroads for business and tourism, but its ambitions now extend to cementing a permanent place on the global stage.
Steering much of this effort is His Excellency Helal Saeed al-Marri, director general of both the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism and the Dubai World Trade Centre Authority.
Al-Marri’s remit spans sustainable tourism, the city’s standing as a business hub and the delivery of Dubai’s broader economic vision. He is charged with aligning government strategy with private-sector ambition, ensuring that international investors and visitors encounter a city that is both commercially competitive and globally connected.
His work requires collaboration across government bodies, international investors and private enterprise. It was under his watch, for instance, that Dubai hosted Expo 2020, a showcase that affirmed the city’s ability to convene talent and capital.
Rank: Notable
Notable 2025, Power List