Samir Tabbah / Group CEO

As the CEO of Desert Gate Tourism,  Samir Tabbah has over 30 years of experience in the travel and tourism industry. With a visionary mindset, he has successfully expanded his Destination Management Company to encompass multiple destinations such as UAE, Oman, Qatar, Maldives, and Mauritius. His strategic acumen and adaptability to the dynamic tourism landscape have led to a track record of successful ventures. His leadership style is characterized by flexibility, innovation, and a deep understanding of market trends and customer orientation, making him a respected figure in the industry. Under his guidance, Desert Gate Tourism continues to thrive and set new benchmarks for excellence in the travel and tourism sector. Beyond the boardroom, he finds enjoyment in playing golf during his free time.

Mohammad Sawalha / Group CFO

With over 30 years of experience in the world of finance and as the Chief Finance Officer of Desert Gate, Mohammad and his team provide a stable foundation for running the company, giving the rest of us the comfort of knowing that the organisation’s finances are in good hands. Outside of work, he loves spending time with his family.

Meriem Khelifi / Group COO – Head of Marketing

As the COO of Desert Gate, Meriem has over 15 years of experience in the tourism industry and an excellent ability to translate guests’ requirements into superlative in-destination experiences, given her creative bent of mind. In her free time, she loves to travel, read, and learn about new cultures/languages and has developed a keen interest in the field of international relations and humanitarianism. She is also passionate about sustainable business practices and constantly working to ensure Desert Gate’s operational model fits within this vision.

Jawad Bhala / Director of Contracting & Negotiations

Jawad began his professional journey from Saudi Arabia in 1994 before moving to Dubai in 1999 to work for some of the biggest names in the tourism industry. He was heading the contracting department in a well reputed organisation for 11 years before joining Desert Gate. In his free time, he loves watching sports.

Hayley Wall / Director of Sales

As Director of Sales for Rest of the World, Hayley has over 20 years’ experience in the tourism industry. Starting as a UK Tour Operator she eventually moved to the UAE in 2013 to continue her career in contracting, finally joining Desert Gate in 2018. In her free time, she loves to travel and experience new destinations, and enjoys time with friends.

Abdul Ghori / Head of Commercial – MICE & Groups, Middle East

Abdul comes with an extensive knowledge in Leisure groups, Meetings, Incentives and Conferences, having worked with respected brands in the industry. His passion for organizing events is what kept him going for over 16 years. In his free time, he loves to network with multi cultural groups or just watch his favorite team play.

Andrea Faldella / Director – Golf Department

Andrea comes with an extensive knowledge in the golf and hospitality industry, having previously been Club Manager at some of the best facilities in Europe and the UAE. He is able to quickly understand clients’ expectations and provide them with exceptional in-destination experiences while paying unmatched attention to detail throughout their stay. In his free time he enjoys to spend time with his family, but he also likes to play golf, work out at the gym, and ride his bike through the desert.

Akram Hajjar / Director of Business Workflow, IT & Process Optimization

Akram comes with an extensive knowledge & experience in Information Technology, Systems automation and Infrastructure. His passion in following and learning the newest technology trends is what kept him going for over 10 years. In his free time, he loves to workout, run and try all different kind of sports.

Isa Davenport / Human Resources Director

Isa brings more than 20 years of global HR experience and a genuine passion for building workplaces where teams can flourish and businesses can achieve sustainable success. As HR Director at Desert Gate, she leads the HR strategy across all destinations, overseeing HR governance, policy development, talent acquisition, L&D strategy, compensation and benefits, employee engagement and workforce planning. Isa ensures smooth day-to-day operations whilst supporting Desert Gate’s growth and evolution.

Valeria Pervushevskaya / Associate Director of Sales – CIS

Valeria is the Associate Director of Sales for the Russia and CIS markets and has been part of Desert Gate for over ten years, bringing extensive knowledge of the region and the destinations we serve. She leads commercial strategy, develops strong partnerships across multiple markets, and ensures our products are tailored to the needs of CIS travellers. Passionate about tennis, basketball and music, she also loves discovering new restaurants and cuisines—making her the go-to person for the best places to dine across the UAE and anywhere her travels take her.

Tatiana Drozdova / Associate Director of Sales – CIS

Tatiana is an experienced tourism professional with over 15 years of experience in both MICE and FIT segments. She specializes in developing the CIS market, managing key client relationships, and driving business growth through tailored travel solutions. With strong expertise in project coordination, partner communication, and service delivery, she is committed to providing seamless experiences for every client. Outside of work, Tatiana enjoys exploring new destinations and discovering the cultural diversity of the UAE.

Jamal Refaat / General Manager Qatar

who has been an integral part of the DG family for many years. He brings over 20 years of work experience in the management and played an instrumental role in uplifting Desert Gate image in Oman to prominence. We hope with his re-joining, we can make our new venture in Qatar a great success while maintaining and leading the team in Oman.

Michael Magdy / Destination Manager – Oman

Michael Magdy is a highly experienced professional in the travel and hospitality sector, boasting over 23 years in the industry. He dedicated 13 years to one of Egypt’s premier Destination Management Companies as the German-Speaking Operations Manager.

Subsequently, he spent six years as Head of Commercial at Meeting Point Oman, where he significantly contributed to business expansion and the development of strategic partnerships in the region.

Upon returning to Egypt, he served as the Assistant Director of Sales at Orascom Hotels Management, overseeing sales operations for 18 hotels across two major destinations for three years. Michael’s diverse experience in Egypt and Oman, along with his proficiency in operations, commercial strategy, and sales management, positions him as a valuable asset in the tourism and hospitality fields.

Stephane Louise / General Manager – Mauritius

Stéphane brings over 20 years of experience in Mauritian tourism and DMC operations. Known for his commitment to excellence, discipline and people-focused leadership, he drives Hello Islands Mauritius to deliver outstanding service and build long-term partnerships. As General Manager, Stéphane oversees the full operation and its growth within the Desert Gate and MTS Globe Group.

Sidonie Antoine / Commercial Director

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Nalin Malwenna / Managing Director, House Of Travels & Tourism, Sri Lanka

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Harsha Wickramanayake / Deputy General Manager, Sri Lanka

With over 15 years of experience in the tourism sector and a longstanding tenure since the company’s establishment in Sri Lanka, I have developed comprehensive expertise across all facets of the business and cultivated a strong professional reputation within the industry and contributing to the organization’s success in becoming a leading DMC in Sri Lanka. I now look forward to contributing to Desert Gate to drive its growth and future success.