QTerminals Appoints Adnan El Yacoubi as Managing Director of Hamad Port in Qatar
Shipping Arabia, October 12, 2026 – QTerminals has appointed Adnan El Yacoubi as Managing Director of Hamad Port in Qatar, bringing more than 17 years of international experience in port operations, terminal management and operational leadership across major maritime markets.
The appointment, announced by QTerminals on October 1, places El Yacoubi at the helm of Hamad Port as the company prepares for its next phase of development. His professional background spans senior operational and executive positions across Belgium, Jordan, Malaysia, Morocco and the Netherlands.
Extensive International Experience in Port Operations
El Yacoubi joins QTerminals following his tenure as Chief Operations Officer at Aqaba Container Terminal (ACT) in Jordan, where he served from July 2024 to September 2026.
Before joining ACT, he was Head of Operations at Malaysia’s Port of Tanjung Pelepas from April 2021 to July 2024. In that position, he oversaw terminal operations and managed a workforce of more than 4,000 employees at one of the world’s largest container terminals.
His earlier career included several senior operational and planning positions within APM Terminals. He served as Head of Shared Planning Center, supporting terminal planning activities across international locations, including Africa and Europe.
El Yacoubi also held the position of Head of Terminal Operations Planning at APM Terminals MedPort Tangier in Morocco between 2017 and 2020. His responsibilities included establishing operational planning functions, implementing terminal operating systems and developing planning procedures.
Additionally, he served as Yard Manager at APM Terminals Maasvlakte II in the Netherlands and previously held terminal planning management positions in Morocco and the Netherlands.
These assignments provided him with extensive experience in container terminal operations, operational planning, workforce management and performance improvement across different international markets.
Leading Hamad Port’s Next Phase of Development
As Managing Director, El Yacoubi will lead the overall management and operations of Hamad Port, with a focus on operational performance, service quality and business growth.
In its announcement, QTerminals highlighted his international leadership experience, operational expertise and commitment to continuous improvement as key strengths supporting his appointment.
The company expressed confidence in his ability to guide Hamad Port through its next phase of growth and development, building on his experience managing major port operations and leading operational teams across international maritime markets.
Source: QTerminals
