AD Ports appoints Dr. Afif Al Yafei as Group CEO
He previously held senior leadership roles at Tabreed and ADNOC Gas and serves on several corporate boards
UAE – AD Ports Group has appointed Dr. Afif Saif Al Yafei as Group Chief Executive Officer, succeeding Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, who has led the organization since 2014, according to a company statement.
Dr. Al Yafei joins from TAQA Transmission, the sole transmission operator in Abu Dhabi and the UAE’s largest owner of transmission assets, where he served as CEO.
He brings more than two decades of executive experience across the infrastructure, utilities and industrial sectors, with expertise in business transformation, operational excellence, investment and international growth.
At TAQA Transmission, he led a national infrastructure business and oversaw growth in its asset base and in its capital investment programme.
He previously held senior leadership roles at Tabreed and ADNOC Gas and serves on several corporate boards. His experience spans strategy, governance, corporate development, digital transformation and national talent development.
Leadership transition and strategic priorities
Captain Al Shamisi led AD Ports Group’s growth from a local port operator into an integrated global trade and logistics business. The company now operates in more than 50 countries across five continents, with 40 terminals.
H.E. Shadi Malak, Chairman of AD Ports Group, said: “Dr. Afif brings extensive experience leading major infrastructure and industrial businesses, together with a strong understanding of the strategic and operational demands of complex organizations. His expertise in growth, investment, governance and organizational development will support AD Ports Group as it builds on its strong foundations and enters its next phase of development.”
The appointment follows a period of significant expansion at AD Ports. The group reported second-quarter 2026 revenue of US$1.93 billion, up 47% year on year, with EBITDA up 49% to US$474 million and net profit up 88% to US$228 million. In September 2026, L’IMAD increased its stake in the company to above 98.5% through a tender offer valuing AD Ports at approximately US$8.6 billion.
For investors, appointing an executive from the utilities and infrastructure sector rather than from shipping signals continuity in the group’s strategy to acquire and develop long-tenor infrastructure assets.
Moreover, TAQA Transmission’s business model, regulated asset growth funded by capital investment programmes, mirrors AD Ports’ approach to building terminal and logistics capacity under long-term concessions.
Finally, Dr. Al Yafei’s mandate will be to sustain growth across a portfolio that expanded rapidly through acquisitions in 2025 and 2026, including terminals in Tanzania, Angola and Egypt, and to integrate these assets into a single operating platform.
Sign up HERE to receive our email newsletters with the latest news and insights from Africa and around the world, and follow us on our WhatsApp channel for updates.
