GCGRA appoints Dr Ahmad Hesham as general counsel and board secretary

The UAE’s General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA) has added Dr Ahmad Hesham to its leadership team, naming him to the dual role of general counsel and board secretary.

Hesham arrives with more than 25 years of experience spanning legal, regulatory, and public policy work across multiple jurisdictions. In his prior capacity as general counsel and senior legal adviser to the UAE federal government, he was responsible for drafting and executing major legislative overhauls, including the Labour Law, Domestic Workers Law, Unemployment Insurance Scheme, and Higher Education Law. He holds a PhD and two master’s degrees in law, and has previously served as vice-president of the Supreme Administrative Court.

In a statement, the GCGRA said Hesham’s appointment bolsters its expertise “as we continue to build a robust and internationally respected regulatory framework for commercial gaming in the UAE.” The authority was established in 2023 to oversee gambling regulation and licensing across the Emirates.

Strategic hires and market acceleration

Hesham joins the regulator shortly after Ciarán Carruthers was appointed as its second permanent CEO last month, replacing Kevin Mullally, who resigned in November. “The UAE is establishing itself as a global benchmark for modern and responsible gaming regulation,” Carruthers said at the time.

The UAE’s push to commercialise regulated gaming has accelerated, with licences awarded to online and retail vendors and the launch of Play971, the country’s first legal gaming site. In November 2025, operator Momentum secured internet gaming and sports wagering licences to operate across the UAE.