Executives from Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the UAE have secured key positions in the World Steel Association’s (worldsteel) leadership for 2026/2027, strengthening the region’s representation in the global steel industry.
Abdulqader Al Mubarak, CEO of Saudi Iron and Steel Company (Hadeed), has been elected chair of worldsteel’s Executive Board of Directors for a one-year term. Ugur Dalbeler, CEO of Turkey’s Colakoglu Metalurji, and Tadashi Imai, representative director, president and COO of Nippon Steel Corporation, have been elected vice-chairs.
Saeed Al Remeithi, group CEO of UAE-based EMSTEEL, has been appointed chair of the Audit Committee.
Al Mubarak and Dalbeler have also been named to worldsteel’s Executive Committee, alongside leaders from major global steelmakers, including China Baowu, Nippon Steel, ArcelorMittal, Tata Steel, JSW Steel and Nucor.
The appointments were announced on October 13, 2026, following a meeting of worldsteel’s Board of Members in New Delhi, India.
The association also welcomed Anwar Ispat of Bangladesh and Hunan Iron and Steel Group of China as regular members. Metaluck Global Resources DMCC and the Steel Producers Committee, both based in the UAE, joined as affiliated members, alongside the Uzbekistan Metallurgy Association.