New general counsel for United Arab Emirates’ gambling regulator as Playtech subsidiary VSTechnology becomes latest supplier to secure a licence
The General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA) of the UAE has appointed Ahmad Hesham as general counsel and board secretary.
Dr. Hesham brings more than 25 years of international legal, regulatory and public policy experience to the role, having advised governments, regulators and public institutions on complex legislative and governance matters across multiple jurisdictions.
Prior to joining GCGRA, he served as general counsel and senior legal advisor to the UAE Federal Government, where he played a leading role in the development of significant legislative and regulatory reforms, including the UAE Labour Law, the Domestic Workers Law, the Unemployment Insurance Scheme, the Higher Education Law, and major strategic workforce and Emiratisation initiatives.
Dr. Hesham has also served as a sitting judge and vice president of the Supreme Administrative Court, and has represented governments and public institutions in regional and international legal and policy forums.
“We are delighted to welcome Dr. Hesham to GCGRA as we continue to build a robust and internationally respected regulatory framework for commercial gaming in the UAE,” said the regulator.
Last month, the GCGRA appointed former Crown Resorts chief executive officer Ciarán Carruthers as its new CEO.