Abdulla Nigil

Talent Acquisition Professional

+971 xxxxxxx

Dubai, UAE

Professional Profile

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.

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Years of Experience

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Team Members

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Annual Placements

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Workforce Growth

Professional Experience

Regional Talent Acquisition Manager

Egis, Middle East | 2022 - Present

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.

Talent Acquisition Manager

Egis, Saudi Arabia | 2019 - 2022

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.

Project Recruiter

Egis Rail, Riyadh Metro Project | 2015 - 2019

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.

Recruitment Supervisor

Almarai | 2012 - 2015

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.

Senior Manager - Sourcing & Recruitment

Talent Hunterz | 2010 - 2012

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.

Recruitment Officer

Pentascribe International | 2006 - 2010

Facilitated recruitment for engineering and construction roles in the Middle East. Conducted candidate screenings and managed recruitment documentation.

Skills

Talent Acquisition Expertise

Strategic Workforce Planning95%
Talent Pipeline Development98%
Executive Search & Leadership Hiring90%
Cross-Border Talent Acquisition92%
Employer Branding & EVP Development88%

Recruitment Innovation & Analytics

Data-Driven Hiring Strategies95%
Recruitment Process Optimization94%
Candidate Experience Design90%
Recruitment Analytics & Metrics93%
Advanced Sourcing Methodologies96%

Recruitment Technology

Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)95%
Microsoft Power BI90%
Power Apps85%
Power Automate80%
Advanced Boolean Search95%

Programming & Analytics

Excel VBA85%
Python75%
Data Analytics90%
Predictive Modeling80%
React65%

Industry Expertise

  • Infrastructure & Engineering
  • Rail & Transportation
  • Construction & Real Estate
  • Energy & Utilities
  • Technology & Digital

Leadership Competencies

  • Team Development & Mentoring
  • Strategic Business Partnership
  • Cross-Functional Collaboration
  • Change Management
  • Project & Budget Management

Technical Tools

  • Multiple ATS Platforms
  • Power BI & Data Visualization
  • Recruitment Automation Solutions
  • Assessment & Evaluation Tools
  • Python & Analytics for Recruitment

Key Achievements

Workforce Expansion

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.

Recruitment Scale

Consistently delivered over 1,100 annual placements across diverse engineering and technical disciplines while maintaining quality and cost-efficiency standards.

Employee Referral Program

Launched an innovative employee referral program that generated 18% of all hires with faster time-to-fill rates compared to other sourcing channels.

Localization Initiative

Successfully increased the percentage of Saudi and Emirati nationals in the workforce through targeted recruitment campaigns, contributing to regional localization goals.

Process Integration

Integrated talent acquisition processes across five Egis entities following acquisitions, creating standardized workflows and service level agreements.

Data-Driven Insights

Developed advanced recruitment dashboards and predictive models using Power BI and Python, enabling data-driven decision-making and improved hiring success rates.

Awards & Recognition

2024 Visionary Award

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."

Appreciation Letter - Riyadh Metro Project

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."

Insights

Recruitment Automation

Leveraging Power BI for data-driven hiring strategies to optimize talent acquisition.

Read More

Sourcing Water Experts

Strategies for recruiting desalination and water treatment specialists in competitive markets.

Read More

Future of Recruitment

How AI and analytics are shaping the next era of talent acquisition.

Read More

Project Portfolio

Rail & Metro Projects

Riyadh Metro station under construction

Riyadh Metro Project

One of the world's largest metro developments, featuring six lines with 176.5 kilometers of track and 85 stations.

Project Value:

$16 billion

Location:

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Recruitment Scope:

Successfully recruited 1,200 specialized rail professionals for the Riyadh Metro Transit Consultants (RMTC) joint venture as part of a four-member team.

Key Challenges:

Sourcing highly specialized rail engineers and technical professionals with metro project experience in a competitive market.

Doha Metro station

Doha Metro Project

Major metro development that created passageways to several stadiums built for the FIFA 2022 World Cup.

Project Value:

$36 billion

Location:

Doha, Qatar

Recruitment Scope:

Coordinated recruitment for engineering and technical roles, contributing to the successful development of Qatar's first metro system.

Key Challenges:

Meeting demanding project timelines ahead of the World Cup while maintaining quality standards in hiring.

Alexandria Abou Qir Metro construction

Alexandria Abou Qir Metro

Transformation of Alexandria's existing diesel train service into a modern electric metro system.

Project Scope:

22-kilometer metro line with 20 stations (14 elevated, 6 ground-level)

Location:

Alexandria, Egypt

Recruitment Scope:

Staffing for Project Implementation Unit Support, Contract Management, and Construction Supervision roles.

Key Challenges:

Identifying professionals with experience in converting existing rail lines to electric metro systems.

Cairo High-Speed Rail tracks

Cairo High-Speed Rail

State-of-the-art rail network efficiently carrying both passengers and freight across Egypt.

Project Scope:

Electric high-speed rail lines connecting Cairo to Abu Simbel via Luxor and Aswan (Blue Line) and Safaga to Qena (Red Line)

Location:

Egypt

Recruitment Scope:

Providing supervision services for construction and implementation, requiring specialized high-speed rail expertise.

Key Challenges:

Attracting international HSR specialists to a developing market while building local capabilities.

Road & Infrastructure Projects

King Fahd Causeway

King Fahd Causeway Project

Enhancement of the vital link between Saudi Arabia and Bahrain with comprehensive refurbishment.

Project Scope:

Condition and life assessment of the 25-kilometer causeway connecting Saudi Arabia and Bahrain

Location:

Saudi Arabia - Bahrain

Recruitment Scope:

Staffing for specialized bridge assessment, infrastructure engineering, and inspection roles.

Key Challenges:

Finding specialists in marine infrastructure assessment with experience in causeway maintenance in harsh environments.

Doha Expressway

Doha Expressways

Major road infrastructure development enhancing connectivity throughout Doha, Qatar.

Project Value:

Multi-billion dollar expressway network

Location:

Doha, Qatar

Recruitment Scope:

Hiring for road design, traffic engineering, and construction supervision positions to support the expressway development.

Key Challenges:

Meeting aggressive project schedules in preparation for the World Cup while navigating an ultra-competitive talent market.

Madinah Bus Rapid Transit system

Madinah Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)

Urban mobility enhancement project in one of Saudi Arabia's holiest cities, improving public transportation.

Project Scope:

Comprehensive Bus Rapid Transit system with dedicated lanes, stations, and modern fleet

Location:

Madinah, Saudi Arabia

Recruitment Scope:

Staffing for urban transport planning, BRT operations, and construction management positions.

Key Challenges:

Finding BRT specialists with experience in the unique transportation needs of religious cities with pilgrimage seasons.

Environmental & Building Projects

NEOM Red Sea coral restoration
Water Expertise Recruitment

NEOM Red Sea Restoration

Innovative environmental project to establish the world's largest coral reef restoration initiative.

Project Scope:

Design and construction of coral nurseries for the Reefscape Restoration initiative, including Primary Coral Nursery (PCN) and Development Coral Nursery (DCN)

Location:

NEOM, Saudi Arabia

Recruitment Scope:

Hiring marine biologists, environmental engineers, and construction managers specialized in marine environments.

Key Challenges:

Sourcing rare specialized talent in coral reef restoration and marine conservation with experience in large-scale projects.

Dubai Exhibition Centre

Dubai Exhibition Centre Expansion

Expansion of the Dubai Exhibition Centre at Expo City Dubai into the largest purpose-built exhibition venue in the region.

Project Value:

$2.7 billion (AED 10 billion)

Project Scope:

1.2-kilometer facility with 180,000 square meters of exhibition space across 26 halls

Location:

Dubai, UAE

Recruitment Scope:

Staffing for architectural, structural, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing design roles, as well as sustainability specialists and BIM experts.

Key Challenges:

Attracting top architectural and engineering talent for a high-profile project aligned with Dubai's 2040 Urban Master Plan.

Diriyah heritage site

Diriyah Project

Multidisciplinary design consultancy for Saudi Arabia's historic Diriyah development.

Project Value:

$114 million (for consultancy)

Location:

Diriyah, Saudi Arabia

Recruitment Scope:

Hiring for architectural design, heritage conservation, and urban planning roles to support the development of this culturally significant site.

Key Challenges:

Finding specialists who could balance modern development needs with heritage preservation requirements in a UNESCO World Heritage context.

Aviation & Water Projects

Saudi airport terminal

Saudi Airports Management

Comprehensive consulting services for 26 airports across Saudi Arabia under Matarat Holding.

Project Scope:

Establishment of phased project management portals, updating airport project management policies and procedures across 26 Saudi airports

Location:

Various locations across Saudi Arabia

Recruitment Scope:

Staffing for Air Traffic Management (ATM), airport development, design, operation, and maintenance specialists.

Key Challenges:

Coordinating recruitment across multiple geographic locations while ensuring consistency in technical capabilities and project management approaches.

Al Shuqaiq Desalination Plant
Water Expertise Recruitment

Al Shuqaiq Desalination Plant

Design review, site supervision, and contract management for a major reverse osmosis facility on the Red Sea Coast.

Project Scope:

450,000 cubic meter capacity reverse osmosis (RO) desalination facility

Location:

Shuqaiq, Saudi Arabia

Recruitment Scope:

Hiring water treatment specialists, desalination experts, and construction supervisors with experience in large-scale water infrastructure.

Key Challenges:

Finding specialized talent in desalination technology with experience in the specific environmental conditions of the Red Sea.

Souq Al-Mubarakiya market

Souq Al-Mubarakiya Development

Construction Management Consultancy for the development and reconstruction of Kuwait's historic market.

Project Scope:

Redevelopment and reconstruction of Kuwait's historic Souq Al-Mubarakiya

Location:

Kuwait City, Kuwait

Recruitment Scope:

Staffing for heritage conservation, urban renewal, and construction management positions with experience in traditional market reconstruction.

Key Challenges:

Identifying professionals with the unique blend of heritage preservation expertise and modern construction techniques.

Contact Me

Contact Information

Phone

+971 58xxxxx

Location

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

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