Executive Chairman - Dubai Aviation City Corporation and Dubai South

Khalifa Al Zaffin is the Executive Chairman of Dubai Aviation City Corporation (DACC), a Government of Dubai entity established to solidify the emirate’s global leadership as a premier logistics and aviation hub. DACC oversees the strategic management of Dubai’s twin aviation hub—Dubai International Airport and the future Al Maktoum International Airport, which is set to become the world’s largest once completed.

The purview of DACC also includes Dubai South and Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects, the construction arm of the Dubai aviation sector which drives infrastructure development and airport capacity expansion across Dubai’s aviation sector.

A prominent figure in the region’s aviation industry, Al Zaffin plays a central role in shaping economic, investment, and fiscal strategies in support of Dubai’s overarching aviation vision. His leadership has been instrumental in the planning and execution of Dubai South—the region’s first fully integrated, master-planned airport city.

Spanning 145 square kilometers and built around Al Maktoum International Airport, Dubai South is home to Expo City Dubai and is key to sustaining Dubai’s status as a global center for trade, transportation, and business. Once fully developed, it is expected to host 1 million residents and generate 500,000 jobs, further elevating Dubai’s standing as the aviation capital of the world.

Driven by a vision of long-term growth and innovation, Al Zaffin’s strategic foresight continues to shape Dubai South into a future-ready, dynamic destination.

Al Zaffin previously served as a Senior Project Engineer at Dubai Aluminum Company Ltd. (DUBAL) and currently serves as board member of the Executive Council for Infrastructure Affairs, Dubai World Trade Center, Cleveland Bridge and Deyaar.

Al Zaffin is a graduate of Arizona State University and holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Chemical Engineering.