Mohammed Sharaf


Mohammed Sharaf, is an Emirati businessman, who was the Group CEO of Dubai Ports World, one of the biggest ports operator in the world. He was the Group CEO of DP World till December 2015 when he announced his sudden retirement from the company.

Early years and education

Sharf earned a degree in business administration from the University of Arizona, Tucson in 1985.

Career

Sharaf started his shipping career, at Howland Hook terminal in the Port of New York and New Jersey. He joined Dubai Ports Authority in 1992, held a number of senior positions in this company and played a central role in the development of Dubai´s container terminals at Jebel Ali and Prot Rashid. In 2001 he became Managing Director of DP World UAE Region. During his mandate, Sharaf performed central roles in developing the terminals of Jeddah, Constanta, Vizag, Jebel Ali and Port Rashid. Actually Mohammed Sharaf is the DP World's Group CEO since 2005 and the DP world's company Director since 2007. In 2005 Sharaf became CEO of DP World. He retired from DP World on January 26, 2016 after he served 23 years in this company.
Mohammed Sharaf was appointed Assistant Foreign Minister of Economic & Trade Affairs of the UAE on July 17, 2017.

Management philosophy

Sharaf experienced the tough work associated with wharf life when he was a 'Manager Trainee' at the now-defunct U.S. Lines. This experience shaped his 'management philosophy' and he expressed it in an interview: I believe that someone at the top must know the bottom, otherwise you are going to be just playing with the numbers and not knowing the reality of the business.

Supply chain optimization

According to Sharaf, automation and new technologies are the way of the future, as they are the means to optimize the wider supply chain, generated by the new mega-ships, on land.

Recognitions

On May 11, 2018 during the 154th Commencement ceremony Sharaf was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences and the Eller College of Management.