dnata appoints new managing director for Zanzibar

dnata announced it has appointed Marwan Essa as Managing Director of its operations in Zanzibar, strengthening leadership in one of East Africa’s growing tourism and aviation gateways. In his new role, Essa will have full accountability for dnata Zanzibar’s business performance and development, overseeing ground handling and cargo operations while driving service excellence for airline customers and airport partners.

His appointment also marks the first time an Emirati has been named to lead one of the company’s international airport operations businesses. Since joining the company in 2017, Marwan has held a series of operational and performance-focused leadership roles between the UAE and Zanzibar, gaining broad experience across ground handling and airport operations. Most recently, he served as Head of Operations and Acting Managing Director in the East African outstation, supporting the business through a period of growth and increased activity.

Alexandra Doisneau, Regional Chief Executive Officer for Airport Operations in the Asia Pacific (APAC) and Middle East & Africa (MEA) regions, dnata, said, “Marwan’s journey within dnata demonstrates the strength of our internal talent pipeline. He brings a deep understanding of our operational standards and a clear focus on performance and partnership. We are confident he will continue to build on the strong foundations established in Zanzibar.” 

The company currently provides ground handling and cargo services to 27 airlines in Zanzibar, supporting approximately 5,700 flights annually. The operation assists more than 1.3 million passengers each year and handles around 6,000 tonnes of cargo.