The General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA) has appointed Dr. Ahmad Hesham as both its new general counsel and board secretary.
Dr. Hesham arrives with over 25 years of experience in legal, regulatory, and public policy matters across various jurisdictions. He has served as the general counsel and senior legal adviser to the UAE federal government, where he was instrumental in drafting significant legislative reforms, including the UAE Labour Law, Domestic Workers Law, Unemployment Insurance Scheme, and Higher Education Law.
Dr. Hesham holds a PhD along with two master’s degrees in law. His judicial experience includes serving as vice-president of the Supreme Administrative Court. He has represented various governments and public institutions at multiple regional and international forums.
In a statement released Tuesday, the GCGRA expressed that Dr. Hesham's appointment would bolster its expertise "as we continue to build a respected and international regulatory framework for commercial gaming in the UAE."
Founded in 2023, the GCGRA is tasked with coordinating gambling regulation in the Emirates and managing licensing processes.
Dr. Hesham joins Ciarán Carruthers, an established figure in Asian gaming, who became the regulator’s second permanent CEO last month. "The UAE is establishing itself as a global benchmark for modern and responsible gaming regulation, and I look forward to working closely with the team, licensees and government partners to achieve that goal," Carruthers remarked upon his appointment. He succeeded Kevin Mullally, who resigned in November of last year.
This appointment comes as the UAE accelerates its efforts to commercialize regulated gaming. These include the licensing of various online and retail vendors, alongside the launch of the UAE’s inaugural online gaming site, Play971. Parent company Momentum received internet gaming and sports wagering licenses to operate throughout the UAE in November 2025.
