Resources

Abdulla Balalaa is a seasoned commercial executive director, urban planner, and civil engineer. He has extensive experience in developing profitable strategies to accelerate the commercialization and development of partnerships in large-scale projects. This includes sustainable urban developments, some of which required creative bespoke solutions, as well as asset monetization and optimizing financial operations. Balalaa led the successful establishment of the first sustainable green REIT in the MENA region, which is now worth over AED 2.8 billion.

As the chairman of Masdar City, Balalaa oversees development and operations by driving its strategy for sustainable growth, as well as its initiatives, partnerships, and R&D clusters.

He holds an executive education degree in business administration from Harvard Business School, a master’s degree in urban and regional planning from Paris Sorbonne University, a leadership diploma co-validated by the University of Cambridge Abu Dhabi, and a bachelor’s degree in applied science and civil engineering from the Higher Colleges of Technology in Abu Dhabi.

Previously, he has served as the executive director of sustainable real estate and the director of real estate development and asset management in the Sustainable Real Estate Division at Masdar, where he was responsible for formulating and executing strategies to establish Masdar City as a global R&D hub. Balalaa also serves on several boards of directors including Ennovate LLC, Masdar EDF ESCO JV, and Emerge Limited.

Ahmed Baghoum oversees operations and development at Masdar City. He is responsible for driving its strategy, innovation-focused initiatives, partnerships, and R&D cluster towards sustainable growth.

A Masdar veteran, Baghoum joined the company in 2009 as director of the Free Zone at Masdar City, where he oversaw all special economic zone functions. He then took the role of executive director of human capital and services at Masdar. In this position, he led the department on talent acquisition, development, and optimizing the company’s UAE national workforce. He also led the company’s corporate services activities. Prior to joining Masdar, Baghoum was the executive director of customer operations at the Dubai Technology & Media Free Zone Authority. This included Dubai Internet City, Dubai Media City, and Dubai Knowledge Village. There he led the client interface and supported departments in the Customer Operations Division.

He also led the re-engineering of the Government Service Operations Department, where he helped develop and implement innovative servicing concepts by creating new partnerships with key government entities.

Baghoum holds an MBA from Texas Tech University. Additionally, he holds a master’s certificate in project management and management concepts from Regis University in the United States.

Mohamed Al Breiki is responsible for leading the advancement of sustainable development at Masdar City, from investment and planning to delivery and sustainable community management. Al Breiki provides strategic planning, value creation, and financial oversights in the development of real estate assets while maintaining highest standard of excellence.

He has over 20 years of development management experience, including planning and design, new construction, commercial tenant fit-out, operations optimization, and business plan execution. Previously, he has held roles at Mubadala, ADEK, and the Urban Planning Council. During his 10 years at Mubadala, he managed major projects in various sectors such as real estate, health care, education, aerospace, and information and communications technology. Some of his notable Abu Dhabi projects include the design and delivery of New York University, the Four Seasons Hotel, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, and Khazna Data Center.

While at the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council, Al Breiki contributed to the master planning of various mixed-use developments across Abu Dhabi and worked collaboratively with real estate developers to ensure their plans were professionally designed, sustainable, and well-managed. At ADEK, he managed the development and implementation of a schools master plan in Abu Dhabi.

Al Breiki holds a BTEC national diploma in business studies from Southampton City College in England. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, a post-graduate diploma in business administration, and a master’s degree in engineering management from the Higher Colleges of Technology in Abu Dhabi.

Sami Abouhatab is responsible for investing in Masdar City’s workforce.  He is a seasoned HR professional with 20 years of experience in all aspects of human capital, including management, recruitment, talent acquisition, employee relations, employee engagement, employee retention, and succession planning.

He has a passion for people, local talent development, and growth. He believes that sustainability and employability are similar: Both help build economies and businesses that future generations can enjoy.

Prior to joining Masdar City, Abouhatab led human resources at the UAE Ministry of Youth, Abu Dhabi Ship Building, and Al-Futtaim Logistics.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science from the University of Adman and a master’s degree in international business management from the University of Wollongong.

Eyad Abdulla is responsible for spearheading the development and execution of technology strategies to support smart city initiatives at Masdar City. He has been instrumental in harnessing emerging technologies to enhance the quality of life for citizens, optimize resource allocation, and improve overall technology operations, including the deployment of smart grids, intelligent transportation systems, IoT infrastructure, and data analytics platforms.

His expertise also extends to areas such as digital governance, open data initiatives, and citizen engagement, ensuring that smart city solutions are designed with inclusivity, transparency, and privacy in mind.

Throughout his career, spanning more than 20 years, Abdulla has successfully led large-scale technology implementations, including enterprise-wide infrastructure upgrades, cloud migration projects, and digital transformation initiatives. He has also worked in cybersecurity, data analytics, and artificial intelligence, enabling him to navigate the rapidly evolving technology landscape and deliver secure and scalable solutions.

He holds a bachelor's degree in computer science engineering from Amman University, where he developed a strong foundation in software development and system architecture. He also holds certifications in project management, enterprise architecture, and cloud computing.

Karim Deen leads the Business Development team at Masdar City, driving strategic partnerships and supporting business growth across the city’s diverse industry clusters. His expertise in business development and real estate strategy underpins his role in advancing Masdar City’s innovative projects and commitment to sustainability.

Karim holds a Bachelor’s degree in Property, Planning, and Development from Kingston University, London, and has been a Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (MRICS) since 2010.

With over a decade of experience, Karim has held senior positions across the real estate and aviation sectors. He served as General Manager of Automotive Development at Al Futtaim, managing real estate portfolios for brands including Toyota, Lexus, and Volvo, and driving the expansion of facilities across the UAE and the region. Earlier roles include managing commercial, residential, and hospitality properties at Al Masood Group, overseeing Etihad Airways’ global property portfolio, and developing crew accommodation and infrastructure projects. Karim also contributed to client portfolio valuations, market research, and investment analysis at Colliers International.

Karim’s extensive experience in complex business environments and real estate strategy continues to support sustainable growth at Masdar City, reinforcing its position as a hub for innovation and sustainability.

Mohamed Moussa is responsible for delivering the development projects inside Masdar City, from the project feasibility study to the tenant handover, including design, approvals, tendering, construction, procurements, and maintaining Masdar City’s standards throughout.

Prior to joining Masdar City in 2009, Moussa worked with top UAE developers such as Nakheel during the construction of Palm Jumeirah and the world project. He has also been involved in several unique projects with Ferrari World and the Ritz Carlton Abu Dhabi. He also helped lead the construction of the UAE pavilion at Expo 2020  in Dubai.

Moussa is a trained civil engineer, having completed several training and courses related to project management, contracts, and cost management, with more than 20 years of construction experience. He is passionate about delivering remarkable and sustainable buildings for communities of the future.

Gaurish is an architect and urban designer with over 25 years  of experience on prestigious projects such as Reem Island Development, the Bahrain Investment Wharf, Palm Jebel Ali, and Dubai Waterfront. He joined Masdar City in 2008.

Wagle has been instrumental in leading the Masdar City master plan design, development, and implementation over the past 15 years. He also leads the development review process for Masdar City and third-party development projects, as well as the Masdar City Sustainability Strategy.

Under his stewardship, Masdar City developed the first Sitewide Estidama PCRS Strategy in Abu Dhabi and  obtained the first “Exemplar” Rating for Central Park, which received multiple awards in 2022.

Wagle is a registered architect and urban planner in India and the UAE. He graduated as an architect from Goa University, India, in 1995 and completed his post-graduate diploma in urban design from CEPT University, India, in 1997.

Wagle is actively involved in lectures and workshops on sustainable and smart city Planning at Masdar City, Paris Sorbonne University, Abu Dhabi, CEPT University and the Khalifa University of Science and Technology’. He was also invited as a global leader on Energy, Environment and Sustainable Cities to speak at the United Nation’s International Students Energy Summit 2015, in Bali, Indonesia. 

Amna Saeed Alzaabi supports the sustainable development and architectural design of various projects across Masdar City.  She also provides support though outreach and knowledge sharing to government entities as well as in third-party development reviews that aim to achieve Masdar City’s sustainability goals.

 Alzaabi  has made many other contributions to Masdar City, including her support in the design of The Link, an in-progress development at Masdar City featuring Abu Dhabi’s first net-zero energy corporate headquarters building.

She holds a master’s degree in urban planning and a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the American University of Sharjah.