Aboubaker Omar Hadi

Chairman, Djibouti Ports and Free Zones Authority and Great Horn Investment Holding

Aboubaker Omar Hadi is arguably the single most influential figure in Djibouti’s commercial infrastructure. He has chaired the Djibouti Ports and Free Zones Authority, DPFZA, since 2011 and also chairs Great Horn Investment Holding, the investment arm behind a large part of the country’s transport and infrastructure development.

Hadi has spent most of his career in ports and logistics. After studying ports, multimodal transport and shipping administration in France and Sweden, he held a succession of senior positions at the Port of Djibouti before taking charge of DPFZA. Under his leadership, Djibouti has developed Doraleh Multipurpose Port, the Djibouti International Free Trade Zone, Damerjog Industrial Park and other major logistics infrastructure. DPFZA states that it has invested more than $1.1 billion in major infrastructure projects over recent years.

Current business influence: Ports, logistics, free zones, maritime infrastructure, aviation, industrial development and major investment projects through DPFZA and GHIH.