Director of Design
ATKINS
Total years of experience :29 years, 5 Months
Direct Design and Development of Hospitality components of Qiddiya - A PIF entity
Reporting directly and supporting managing director supporting Nakheel's development projects in an advisory role.
• Successfully implemented measures for project design management to monitor and control various aspects of the project life cycle that helped to deliver projects as per quality norms, on time and facilitated budgetary savings.
• Successfully conducted international design competition for high profile Media City at Yas South, Abu Dhabi.
• Made significant contribution by introducing industry best practises and tools in project design execution and management.
• Served as member of the ROVE Hotels Executive team to plan, design, and construct ROVE Hotels, a new hotel brand developed by EMAAR Hospitality Group, a division of EMAAR Properties.
• Proficiently directed design services as required through all phases of design from brand formation, inception to operations and in to one of the most successful mid-market hotel brands in Dubai for ROVE Hotels.
• Successfully steered design review and approval process with team of multi-disciplinary consultants for a fast-track project with construction activities at all sites commencing within 6 months from inception and leading to completion and successful opening of 3 of the ROVE hotel properties within 30 months from inception.
• Nurtured healthy and professional collaborative environment working with multi-disciplinary and multi-national staff from diverse cultures.
• Developed innovative design concepts and drafted operating guidelines for ROVE brand in tandem with various departments.
• Dexterously directed internal team and consultants to develop interior design that is aligned with the brand, operational style, business vision, and feasibility studies.
• Directed specialist consultants in developing efficient kitchen and BOH layouts, ensuring that required functional adjacencies are maintained, operational and service flow efficiency are achieved and all provisions required for efficient operations are accommodated.
• Developed and coordinated Pre-Opening activities, prepared checklists, critical paths and supported operational team to launch the hotel successfully as planned.
Based out of Hilton’s regional office in Dubai, reported directly to the Regional Vice President for Technical Services for Middle East and Africa, providing leadership to the projects from inception to handover & opening.
• Directed the planning, design and construction of various brands of Hilton hotels and properties ranging from luxury to mid-market hotels, luxury residences and mixed-use properties with residence/hotel combination in the Middle East and Africa region.
• Successfully delivered all obligations as part of technical services ensuring brand integrity and served as single point of contact for the project. Directed and supported new build, refurbishment projects, conversions and master plan of existing properties in the Middle East and Africa region. Advised on potentials for improvements and adaptability for alternative use in consultation with Technical Services’ Engineering.
• Managed various aspects of the project to ensure that the project is executed as per approved design drawings and in compliance with all applicable codes and standards.
(A real-estate development arm of Qatar Investment Authority- Government of Qatar)
• Directed and provided leadership to various projects across the world developed by Qatari Diar, a real estate arm of Qatar’s Sovereign Wealth Fund.
• Spearheaded the Tripoli Waterfront development project, resulting in the start of construction activities of this US$700 Million, fast- track project within 6 months from project initiation. Adeptly navigated the challenges at site in Tripoli Libya and provided design solutions, references and technical advice as needed to a team of international consultants.
• Appointed consultants and successfully led design services team through all phases of the project design encompassing 5-star Hilton Resort in Tripoli, Libya.
• Reviewed and implemented through design, risk mitigation and security planning strategies for the project assets as recommended by security consultants for properties under development at unstable regions of Middle East and Africa.
• Collaborated and successfully managed a multi-national workforce of consultants and contractors at site in Tripoli.
• Developed and implemented various project control mechanisms leading to efficient project design delivery on time.
• Ensured that the designs are in alignment with company’s vision and meets the project objectives, vision and quality standards.
Vice President & Managing Director, Dubai, UAE and Las Vegas, USA
• Provided leadership for a well reputed, award winning, multi-disciplinary design firm based in Las Vegas, Nevada, with a portfolio of marquee leisure, and hospitality projects ranging in values from US$ 1 Billion to US$ 4 Billion.
• Led the Design Management of one of the largest hospitality development projects in the World “Bawadi” consisting of more than 50, 000 keys of high quality, luxury hospitality and leisure projects in Dubai, UAE.
• Provided design services for various clients such as Damac, Dubai Properties, Emaar, GGICO Properties, Qanat Al Qasba - Sharjah and various high-net-worth individuals (HNWI).
• Set up the Dubai branch office of Friedmutter Group in 2006 and served as its Managing Director. Successfully led the start-up operations in the UAE, initiated business development to build significant client portfolio and generated substantial top line and bottom line growth with revenue exceeding millions of dollars for FY 2008.
• Instrumental in providing strategic direction to design services for clients in Dubai.
• Selected finalist for Warner Bros. theme park hotel in Abu Dhabi in 2008 and for Bawadi Desert Gate towers in Dubai.
Various Design-Build health-care, institutional and commercial projects in Massachusetts and other states.
• Design experience at various leading multi-disciplinary design firms in Boston, MA. USA such as: Sasaki & Associates, SMMA, Hoskins Scott & Partners etc.
• RSP Architects, Planners and Engineers - Singapore
• T.R Hamzah and Yeang, Ampang, Selangor, Malaysia
Owned and operated consulting business and franchise in Massachusetts, USA of a nation-wide automotive business. Manage daily business operations such as: property, sales, procurement of parts and supplies, supervision of production, warranties, delivery of vehicles, fleet management, employee welfare, customer service, etc.
ESRI, a global leader in Geographic Information systems (GIS). Reporting directly to the President of ESRI and Director of Benchmarks and Prototype Development Laboratory at ESRI, provided technical marketing support, Prototyped applications and benchmarked ESRI’s products and services for various United States and International agencies, generating millions of dollars in revenue. Developed turnkey GIS based applications for Land Planning, Urban Planning and Development, Emergency management, etc. for various United States and International agencies.
3-1/2 YEAR MASTER OF ARCHITECTURE PROFESSIONAL DEGREE
POST PROFESSIONAL DEGREE MASTER OF DESIGN STUDIES , MDESS
3-1/2 YEAR PROFESSIONAL MASTER OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE , M.L.A
5 YEAR PROFESSIONAL BACHELOR OF ARCHITECTURE, B.ARCH