Today, the DIFC is the world’s fastest-growing financial centre and is home to more than 500 companies, including many of the world’s leading financial firms.

Dr Omar, who was previously the Director General of Dubai International Financial Centre Authority (DIFC Authority), has led the phenomenal development of the DIFC. Under his leadership the centre has established itself as the first truly international financial centre within the region and the world’s fastest-growing centre of its kind. The DIFC aims to be universally recognised as a hub for institutional finance and a gateway for capital and investment in a region stretching from central and eastern Africa to the Indian sub-continent. Dr Omar also led the development and successful launch of the first international financial exchange in the region, the Dubai International Financial Exchange (DIFX) www.difx.ae.

Before joining the DIFC, Dr Omar was the Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Internet City (DIC). He led the development of DIC into a major Information and Communications Technology (ICT) cluster that houses several global giants such as Microsoft, Oracle, IBM, SAP, Cisco, Sony Ericsson, Sun Microsystems, Computer Associates and Siemens. Under his leadership, DIC achieved more than 100 per cent growth in less than a year, an exceptional pace which was maintained for three consecutive years. At the same time, he also led the development of several other entities under the banner of the Dubai Technology and Media (TECOM) Free Zone Authority, the Government of Dubai body responsible for the development of knowledge clusters such as ICT, media, education, energy, etc.

Dr Omar is extensively involved in business and industry through board membership on a diversity of businesses and institutions. He is also a committed patron of the arts, and has established the first contemporary art fair in Dubai, “Art Dubai”. In this role, he has made a prominent contribution to Dubai’s cultural development and its economic growth.

He can be characterised as an entrepreneur, a visionary leader, and a perceptive strategic planner.

• Chairman, DIFC Investments LLC,the investment arm of DIFC; 
• Chairman, Young Arab Leaders (YAL) (www.yaleaders.org);
• Member of the Board and Managing Director in Charge, Dubai Culture and Arts Authority;
• Vice-Chairman, Dubai Real Estate Corporation (www.drec.ae);
• Member, Economic and Trade Committee established by the Executive Council of Dubai; 
• Chairman of the Board of Governors, The Capital Club (www.capitalclubdubai.com);
• Chairman of Art Dubai (www.artdubai.ae);
• Board Member, Institute of Management Development (IMD), Lausanne (www.imd.ch);
• Board Member, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Establishment for Young Business Leaders (http://www.sme.ae);
• Group Managing Director and Co-founder, Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (www.dae.ae);
• Chairman, Dubai Aerospace Enterprise University (DAE University), (www.daeuniversity.com);
• Board Member, Dubai Technology and Media Free Zone Authority (www.tecom.ae); 
• Board Member, Endowment Fund, Dubai;
• Member, Seoul International Business Advisory Council (SIBAC);
• Board Member of Empower, the Emirates Central Cooling Systems Corporation (www.empower.ae); 
• Board Member, Etisalat - the international telecommunications provider in the UAE (www.etisalat.co.ae); 
• Board Member, Etisalat Misr, Egypt (www.etisalat.com.eg); one of the international telecom providers in Egypt;
• Founder, Hawkamah- the institute for corporate governance (www.hawkamah.org); 
• Founder, Dubai Outsource Zone-first free zone in the world for outsourcing (www.doz.ae); 
• Co-founder, Dubai Knowledge Village (www.kv.ae); 
• Member, Young Global Leaders (www.younggloballeaders.org); 
• Member, Young President’s Organisation (www.ypo.org); 
• Vice-Chairman, Dubai Autism Center (www.dubaiautismcenter.ae)