Abdulqader Al-Mubarak Appointed President of the World Steel Association; Saeed Al-Rumaithi to Head the Audit Committee
The World Steel Association (worldsteel) announced on October 13, 2026, the election of its new leadership for the 2026/2027 term, appointing Abdulqader Al-Mubarak, CEO of Hadeed (Saudi Iron and Steel Company), as President of the Association for one year, alongside the election of Saeed Ghamran Al-Rumaithi, CEO of UAE-based Al Ezz Dekheila Steel Group, as Chairman of the Audit Committee.
The new formation reflects an Arab presence in leadership positions within one of the most prominent international steel industry organizations, coinciding with the admission of five new members, a move that expands the representation base for producers and industry-related institutions globally.
These changes gain significance in light of the challenges facing the sector, from trade shifts and protectionist measures to reducing carbon emissions and enhancing competitiveness.
Abdulqader Al-Mubarak Appointed President of the Association for 2026/2027
The General Assembly of the World Steel Association elected Abdulqader Al-Mubarak, CEO of Hadeed (Saudi Iron and Steel Company), as President for the term extending from October 2026 to October 2027. He succeeds Ugur Dalbeler, CEO of Çolakoğlu Metalurji, who was elected Vice President, alongside Tadashi Imai, Chief Operating Officer and President of Nippon Steel Corporation.
Al-Mubarak's election is an extension of Saudi Arabia's presence in the Association's leadership, given the Kingdom's role in the regional steel industry through its producing companies and industrial investments.
Al-Mubarak will lead the Association for one year, in accordance with its regulations which stipulate a one-year term for the presidency.
The executive formation includes leaders from companies operating in major markets, reflecting the breadth of the Association's reach and the diversity of its members' interests across Asia, Europe, and the Americas.
The importance of this diversity is highlighted at a time when issues of trade, energy, raw materials, technology, and climate policies are intertwined in shaping the industry's trajectory.
Saeed Ghamran Al-Rumaithi Appointed Chairman of the Audit Committee
Concurrently with Al-Mubarak's presidency, Saeed Ghamran Al-Rumaithi, CEO of UAE-based Al Ezz Dekheila Steel Group, was elected Chairman of the Audit Committee for the 2026/2027 term. This selection represents an Emirati presence in the Association's leadership structure, complementing the Saudi presence in its presidency, through two executive leaders operating in two key Gulf steel-producing markets.
The Audit Committee is responsible for supporting the Association's oversight and governance system by monitoring aspects related to institutional control and ensuring appropriate mechanisms for review and accountability, thereby enhancing transparency and procedural integrity.
Executive Committee Comprises Leaders from Major Global Industries
In addition to the election of the Association's President, Vice Presidents, and Chairman of the Audit Committee, the composition of the Executive Committee for the 2026/2027 term was announced, including a group of leaders from the world's foremost steel companies.
The list includes Eui-Hwan Chang, Chairman of POSCO Holdings (South Korea); and Masayuki Hirose, President and CEO of JFE Steel
Corporation (Japan); and Hou Wangming, Chairman of China Baowu Steel Group (China); and Tadashi Imai, Chief Operating Officer and President of Nippon Steel Corporation (Japan).
It also includes Sajjan Jindal, Chairman and Managing Director of JSW Steel (India); Andre Beer Gerdau Johannpeter, Executive Vice President of Gerdau (Brazil); Liu Jian, Chairman of HBIS Group (China); and Mark Millett, Co-Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Steel Dynamics (USA).
The committee also includes Lakshmi Mittal, Executive Chairman of ArcelorMittal; and Alexey Mordashov, Chairman of Severstal (Russia), as a non-executive member; and T. V. Narendran, CEO & Managing Director of Tata Steel; and Paolo Rocca, Chairman and CEO of Techint Group.
The list also features Leon Topalian, President and CEO of Nucor Corporation (USA); Hubert Zajicek, Member of the Management Board and CEO of the Steel Division at voestalpine AG; along with Abdulqader Al-Mubarak, Ugur Dalbeler, and Tadashi Imai.
Henrik Adam, the Association's new Director General, will serve as Secretary of the Executive Committee, succeeding Edwin Basson, who led the Association's General Secretariat since 2011.
The formation brings together major steel companies from China, Japan, India, South Korea, Europe, and the Americas, providing broad representation from various production centers in the decisions and programs adopted by the Association.
Five New Members Expand the Membership Base
The Association announced the admission of two steel-producing companies as regular members: Anwar Ispat Ltd from Bangladesh, represented by Farkan Hossain, and Hunan Iron and Steel Group from China, represented by Yongfeng Han.
It also welcomed three associate members: Metaluck Global Resources DMCC from the UAE, represented by Charles Neel; the Emirates Steel Producers Committee, represented by Bader Al Mashrek; and the Uzbekistan Metallurgy Association, represented by Gulbahor Bakhodirovna Turgunmirayeva.
The new members add production companies and representative institutions from Bangladesh, China, the UAE, and Uzbekistan to the Association's network, which unites steel producers, national and regional industry federations, and specialized research institutions.
This expansion includes two membership categories; producers join as regular members, while associate members encompass industry-related institutions and bodies, in accordance with the Association's adopted membership system.
World Steel Association: From its Founding in 1967 to Representing 85% of Global Production
The World Steel Association was founded on July 10, 1967, under the name International Iron and Steel Institute (IISI), before changing its name to the World Steel Association (worldsteel) on October 6, 2008, as its scope of work and international membership expanded.
The Association is one of the most prominent international organizations specializing in the steel industry, comprising producers, national and regional federations, and research institutes. Its members represent approximately 85% of global steel production. Its headquarters are located in Brussels, Belgium, with an office in Beijing, China, opened in April 2006, according to its official data.
The association plays a role in collecting industry data and statistics, analyzing production and demand trends, exchanging technical expertise, as well as working on sustainability, occupational safety and health issues, and developing industrial practices.
With the election of the new Board of Directors for the 2026/2027 term, the association enters a new year of work under leadership that includes representatives from major global market companies, with an Arab presence in its chairmanship and the chairmanship of the Audit Committee, at a time when the importance of international coordination regarding the future of the steel industry and its competitiveness is increasing.
