Fernand is the Middle East Tax COO, delivering impact how and where it matters most for our Tax clients, talent, and community in the region. Fernand is also the Middle East Customs and Global Trade Advisory Leader and is based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Fernand has more than 30 years of experience in indirect tax, with a strong focus on Customs, excise taxes and global trade matters. In 2010, Fernand became the Global Leader for Global Trade Advisory at Deloitte, working with a group of over 800 subject matter experts around the globe serving clients in both the public and private sectors on customs and global trade matters. He regularly advises on projects relating to business model optimization, automation (customs and excise solutions), compliance, export controls, excise, litigation, valuation, origin, customs classification, data analytics and trade automation/technology. Before becoming a consultant, Fernand worked as a Customs Official with the Dutch Customs Authorities. He assisted several clients in a variety of cases including leading a PAN-European project on e-Customs and Authorized Economic Operator (AEO), excises and international trade matters and indirect tax IT solutions.

Shaimaa is a Customs and Global Trade Advisory Director within Deloitte Middle East. She is a dedicated and resourceful Legal Professional with over 12 years of experience in advising domestic and multinational companies in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) relating to Customs and International Trade matters – seeking challenging assignments with a reputed organization with significant exposure in various aspects of Customs Law and regulation. Shaimaa started her career in a law firm in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), prior to moving to the professional services industry in 2018 where she served a wide range of public and private sector clients as a Customs and International Trade Manager for three years. Her areas of expertise include audit support, as well as litigation, due diligence, health check review and advisory expertise, particularly with Free Zone companies.  Shaimaa’s professional career has been focused on providing specific Customs advice from a Customs and International Trade perspective to local and multinational companies from different economic sectors, particularly industrial, textile, distribution, tobacco, logistics, and oil and gas. Shaimaa participated in several projects where she has gained experience including, preparing technical reports related to smuggling cases covering post clearance Audit, valuation, classification and other related dispute and litigations matters, (i.e. Customs grievance cases). Shaimaa has a very strong relationship with the Customs Authorities in the UAE and the JAFZ, DMCC, DAFZ Authorities.