Talent Acquisition Professional
I am a data-driven recruitment professional with over 17 years of experience, focusing on securing talent for major engineering projects in the Middle East and India. Currently, I lead Talent Acquisition for Egis, developing strategies for various sectors and growing the team from a sole contributor to 21 members. Under my leadership, the workforce expanded from 200 to over 6,000 since 2015.
I have created regional policies and integrated Talent Acquisition processes across five entities. Passionate about recruitment automation and innovative sourcing techniques, I strive to enhance recruitment efficiency through technology, using tools like Power BI and Python to improve hiring processes. My technical skills include ATS, Microsoft Power Platform, and programming languages like Python and VBA.
Years of Experience
Team Members
Annual Placements
Workforce Growth
Leading a team of 21 recruitment professionals across UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, and India. Coordinating workforce growth for Aviation, Rail/Transit, Roads, and Urban Development sectors. Delivering over 1,100 annual placements while integrating talent acquisition processes across multiple entities.
Led end-to-end recruitment for large-scale engineering projects across various sectors. Established regional Talent Acquisition function and processes. Implemented innovative sourcing strategies and digital talent acquisition initiatives.
Part of a four-member team that successfully recruited 1,200 specialized rail professionals for the Riyadh Metro Transit Consultants (RMTC) joint venture. Developed high-level recruitment dashboards to keep senior leadership apprised of hiring progress.
Managed high-volume hiring, recruiting over 11,000 employees in 2013 and 12,300 in 2014 for Corporate, IT, Transport, and Logistics divisions. Streamlined recruitment processes and improved candidate experience.
Led recruitment services for clients in construction, oil & gas, and infrastructure sectors across the Middle East. Managed end-to-end recruitment cycles and client relationships.
Facilitated recruitment for engineering and construction roles in the Middle East. Conducted candidate screenings and managed recruitment documentation.
Led a 15x workforce growth at Egis, expanding from approximately 200 to over 3,000 employees in the Middle East region since 2015, supporting major infrastructure projects.
Consistently delivered over 1,100 annual placements across diverse engineering and technical disciplines while maintaining quality and cost-efficiency standards.
Launched an innovative employee referral program that generated 18% of all hires with faster time-to-fill rates compared to other sourcing channels.
Successfully increased the percentage of Saudi and Emirati nationals in the workforce through targeted recruitment campaigns, contributing to regional localization goals.
Integrated talent acquisition processes across five Egis entities following acquisitions, creating standardized workflows and service level agreements.
Developed advanced recruitment dashboards and predictive models using Power BI and Python, enabling data-driven decision-making and improved hiring success rates.
Awarded the 2024 Visionary Award for exceptional leadership in talent acquisition, which has significantly contributed to the organization's growth and success.
"Abdulla's innovative approach, coupled with his ability to foster a high-performing team and anticipate future talent needs, has been instrumental in securing top talent. His strategic thinking and commitment to professional development have positioned him as a visionary leader within our organization."
Recognition from Carter R. Rohan, Vice President of Parsons International, Ltd. and RMTC Riyadh Metro Project Director, for exceptional recruitment contributions to the $16 billion Riyadh Metro program.
"Your expertise and skills in recruiting produced highly successful results for the Riyadh Metro Transit Consultants on the program. You demonstrated the standard of professionalism throughout your time on the program. All of your work in the Talent Management department has been of high quality and your resourcefulness, dependability, and integrity in carrying out your work has proven to be very valuable for the project, and the Joint Venture."
Leveraging Power BI for data-driven hiring strategies to optimize talent acquisition.
Read MoreStrategies for recruiting desalination and water treatment specialists in competitive markets.
Read MoreHow AI and analytics are shaping the next era of talent acquisition.
Read MoreOne of the world's largest metro developments, featuring six lines with 176.5 kilometers of track and 85 stations.
$16 billion
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Successfully recruited 1,200 specialized rail professionals for the Riyadh Metro Transit Consultants (RMTC) joint venture as part of a four-member team.
Sourcing highly specialized rail engineers and technical professionals with metro project experience in a competitive market.
Major metro development that created passageways to several stadiums built for the FIFA 2022 World Cup.
$36 billion
Doha, Qatar
Coordinated recruitment for engineering and technical roles, contributing to the successful development of Qatar's first metro system.
Meeting demanding project timelines ahead of the World Cup while maintaining quality standards in hiring.
Transformation of Alexandria's existing diesel train service into a modern electric metro system.
22-kilometer metro line with 20 stations (14 elevated, 6 ground-level)
Alexandria, Egypt
Staffing for Project Implementation Unit Support, Contract Management, and Construction Supervision roles.
Identifying professionals with experience in converting existing rail lines to electric metro systems.
State-of-the-art rail network efficiently carrying both passengers and freight across Egypt.
Electric high-speed rail lines connecting Cairo to Abu Simbel via Luxor and Aswan (Blue Line) and Safaga to Qena (Red Line)
Egypt
Providing supervision services for construction and implementation, requiring specialized high-speed rail expertise.
Attracting international HSR specialists to a developing market while building local capabilities.
Enhancement of the vital link between Saudi Arabia and Bahrain with comprehensive refurbishment.
Condition and life assessment of the 25-kilometer causeway connecting Saudi Arabia and Bahrain
Saudi Arabia - Bahrain
Staffing for specialized bridge assessment, infrastructure engineering, and inspection roles.
Finding specialists in marine infrastructure assessment with experience in causeway maintenance in harsh environments.
Major road infrastructure development enhancing connectivity throughout Doha, Qatar.
Multi-billion dollar expressway network
Doha, Qatar
Hiring for road design, traffic engineering, and construction supervision positions to support the expressway development.
Meeting aggressive project schedules in preparation for the World Cup while navigating an ultra-competitive talent market.
Urban mobility enhancement project in one of Saudi Arabia's holiest cities, improving public transportation.
Comprehensive Bus Rapid Transit system with dedicated lanes, stations, and modern fleet
Madinah, Saudi Arabia
Staffing for urban transport planning, BRT operations, and construction management positions.
Finding BRT specialists with experience in the unique transportation needs of religious cities with pilgrimage seasons.
Innovative environmental project to establish the world's largest coral reef restoration initiative.
Design and construction of coral nurseries for the Reefscape Restoration initiative, including Primary Coral Nursery (PCN) and Development Coral Nursery (DCN)
NEOM, Saudi Arabia
Hiring marine biologists, environmental engineers, and construction managers specialized in marine environments.
Sourcing rare specialized talent in coral reef restoration and marine conservation with experience in large-scale projects.
Expansion of the Dubai Exhibition Centre at Expo City Dubai into the largest purpose-built exhibition venue in the region.
$2.7 billion (AED 10 billion)
1.2-kilometer facility with 180,000 square meters of exhibition space across 26 halls
Dubai, UAE
Staffing for architectural, structural, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing design roles, as well as sustainability specialists and BIM experts.
Attracting top architectural and engineering talent for a high-profile project aligned with Dubai's 2040 Urban Master Plan.
Multidisciplinary design consultancy for Saudi Arabia's historic Diriyah development.
$114 million (for consultancy)
Diriyah, Saudi Arabia
Hiring for architectural design, heritage conservation, and urban planning roles to support the development of this culturally significant site.
Finding specialists who could balance modern development needs with heritage preservation requirements in a UNESCO World Heritage context.
Comprehensive consulting services for 26 airports across Saudi Arabia under Matarat Holding.
Establishment of phased project management portals, updating airport project management policies and procedures across 26 Saudi airports
Various locations across Saudi Arabia
Staffing for Air Traffic Management (ATM), airport development, design, operation, and maintenance specialists.
Coordinating recruitment across multiple geographic locations while ensuring consistency in technical capabilities and project management approaches.
Design review, site supervision, and contract management for a major reverse osmosis facility on the Red Sea Coast.
450,000 cubic meter capacity reverse osmosis (RO) desalination facility
Shuqaiq, Saudi Arabia
Hiring water treatment specialists, desalination experts, and construction supervisors with experience in large-scale water infrastructure.
Finding specialized talent in desalination technology with experience in the specific environmental conditions of the Red Sea.
Construction Management Consultancy for the development and reconstruction of Kuwait's historic market.
Redevelopment and reconstruction of Kuwait's historic Souq Al-Mubarakiya
Kuwait City, Kuwait
Staffing for heritage conservation, urban renewal, and construction management positions with experience in traditional market reconstruction.
Identifying professionals with the unique blend of heritage preservation expertise and modern construction techniques.
Phone
+971 58xxxxx
Location
Dubai, United Arab Emirates