Microsoft appoints Ahmad El Dandachi as General Manager of Qatar; Lana Khalaf moves into a new role

Microsoft has appointed Ahmad El Dandachi as General Manager to spearhead operations in Qatar, effective July 1, 2025.

El Dandachi joins Microsoft with over 25 years of industry leadership experience. He succeeds Lana Khalaf, who is moving within the organization to take over as the Public Sector Lead for the Middle East and Africa region.

Before this appointment, El Dandachi served as the Chief Commercial Officer – Enterprise for the Middle East region. “Ahmad led large-scale digital transformation projects across the GCC and played a key role in advancing Microsoft’s enterprise customer engagement. Prior to that, he was the Enterprise Sales Lead for the United Arab Emirates, driving impactful strategies that supported customers on their cloud and AI adoption journeys,” the company stated in the announcement.

It added, “As General Manager, Ahmad will continue the momentum established under Lana Khalaf’s leadership, further strengthening Microsoft’s trusted relationships across Qatar’s public and private sectors. He will continue to focus on deepening the company’s contribution to the nation’s digital future, supporting strategic priorities under Qatar National Vision 2030 and the Third Qatar National Development Strategy, and enabling innovation, resilience, and long-term growth through the power of cloud, AI, and cybersecurity.”

El Dandachi also commented, “I’m honored to take on this role as Qatar continues to accelerate its digital transformation and national development agenda. Over the course of my career — including two decades at Microsoft — I’ve seen firsthand how technology can unlock economic opportunity and create lasting impact.

I’m excited to work alongside our customers, government stakeholders, and industry leaders to harness the full potential of cloud and AI in shaping a more inclusive, innovative, and sustainable future. With a passionate team and the strong foundation laid by Lana, we remain deeply committed to supporting Qatar’s ambition to become a global leader in digital excellence, talent development, and societal progress.”

He also extended his best wishes to Khalaf, adding, “Lana has been a transformative leader whose vision and impact have left an enduring mark on Microsoft’s journey in Qatar. As I step into this role, I am committed to advancing that legacy — driving bold innovation and delivering meaningful outcomes for our customers and partners. I wish Lana every success in her new role, where I have no doubt she will continue to make a powerful difference across the region.”

Khalaf also expressed, “Leading Microsoft Qatar was a truly transformative and fulfilling journey. I am profoundly grateful to our customers, partners, and the incredible Microsoft Qatar team for the trust, collaboration, partnerships, and impact we created together driving Qatar’s digital transformation agenda.

This nation’s unwavering commitment to innovation has been a true source of inspiration—an amazing experience that deeply shaped me both personally and professionally. I carry its impact with great pride as I step into this new regional role. I look forward to leveraging these invaluable experiences to empower governments and people across the Middle East and Africa, enabling them to harness technology as a catalyst for inclusive growth, innovation, resilience, and sustainable progress.”

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Khalaf brings over two decades of leadership experience, having joined Microsoft in 2006 and held several leadership roles over the years. “With over 20 years of experience, Khalaf has held key leadership roles, championing digital skills development, supporting startups and entrepreneurs, and advancing national priorities in sustainability and diversity,” the company added.

She was also recognized among the Top 100 Most Powerful Businesswomen for the past two years by Forbes Middle East, an accolade marking her as a “key voice for inclusive innovation and technology leadership” in the Middle East region.