The General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA) has announced the appointment of Dr. Ahmad Hesham as its new general counsel and board secretary.
Dr. Hesham brings over 25 years of legal, regulatory, and public policy experience from various jurisdictions. He has served as the general counsel and senior legal adviser to the UAE federal government, where he was instrumental in drafting and enforcing several legislative reforms, including the UAE Labour Law, the Domestic Workers Law, the Unemployment Insurance Scheme, and the Higher Education Law. With a PhD and two master's degrees in law, his qualifications are extensive.
Additionally, Dr. Hesham has held multiple judicial roles, notably as the vice-president of the Supreme Administrative Court. He has represented governments and public institutions at numerous regional and international gatherings.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the GCGRA expressed confidence that Dr. Hesham’s expertise will be invaluable as they continue to establish a respected regulatory framework for commercial gaming in the UAE.
Since its establishment in 2023, the GCGRA has been responsible for overseeing gambling regulation in the Emirates, including the licensing processes.
Dr. Hesham is joining Ciarán Carruthers, an experienced figure in Asian gaming who was appointed as the GCGRA’s second permanent CEO just last month. Carruthers stated that the UAE is setting a global standard for modern and responsible gaming regulation and expressed eagerness to collaborate with the team, licensees, and government partners to achieve this goal.
Carruthers succeeded Kevin Mullally, who stepped down in November of the previous year.
This appointment comes as the UAE accelerates its plans to commercialize regulated gaming, which includes licensing various online and retail vendors. Notably, the UAE launched its first online gaming platform, Play971. The parent company, Momentum, obtained internet gaming and sports wagering licenses to operate throughout the UAE in November 2025.
