Waleed Talaat Ahmed (UPDA® , MBA , ACIArb®, CMAD®, CMP, ARB, PMP®)

Senior Procurement Manager @ Estithmar Holding

About

I am a senior executive with 19+ years of GCC experience leading strategic procurement, commercial governance, and FIDIC contract administration across Qatar, KSA, and Iraq.Over my career I have managed 40+ high-value projects spanning 5-star luxury hotels, government megaprojects, VVVIP residences, and complex infrastructure — building procurement functions from scratch, resolving high-stakes disputes, and consistently protecting organizational revenue at every stage of the project lifecycle.What makes my profile distinctive is the combination of depth across three disciplines that most professionals hold separately:→ Strategic Procurement: Built new procurement systems from the ground up at three organizations. Expanded vendor ecosystems by 150+ suppliers across KSA and Iraq. Delivered 15%+ cost savings through value engineering on active portfolios.→ FIDIC Contract Administration: Certified across Modules 1–5. Applied on live projects including claims resolution, dispute boards, and variation management — not just in theory.→ Commercial & Arbitration Expertise: MCIArb member (Chartered Institute of Arbitrators). Successfully managed and closed QAR 82M+ in variations and claims across multiple projects.Current scope: Leading multi-country procurement for Estithmar Holding – Elegancia Group across KSA (Amaala Rosewood, Red Sea Airport, Sindalah Island) and Iraq (Rixos Hotel), alongside a Qatar VVVIP portfolio.Credentials: FIDIC Certified (Modules 1–5) | MCIArb | UPDA Grade A Engineer (Reg. 5794) | MBA (Completed 2025) | Professional Diploma in Contract Management (AUC)Open to: CPO | Commercial Director | Group Procurement Director roles in Qatar and GCC.A trusted expert in strategic sourcing, contract management, and commercial negotiations, I drive measurable cost savings, supplier performance, and operational excellence. My leadership style is centered on building empowered teams, strengthening stakeholder relationships, and delivering sustainable value to organizations.Certified as a UPDA Grade A Engineer and a Chartered Member of CIArb, I combine deep technical expertise with strong business acumen to lead large-scale projects and procurement operations that fuel growth and competitive advantage

Country

Qatar

City

Doha

Industry

Construction

Skill

Supply Management, Purchase Management, Project Delivery, Supplier Management, Pre-Construction, Project Estimation, E-procurement, Change Orders, Leadership, Communication, Construction Engineering, Project Management Office (PMO), Management, Negotiation, Teamwork, Problem Solving, Project Managers, Team Leadership, Subcontracting, Customer Relationship Management (CRM)

Experience

Senior Procurement Manager

Estithmar Holding

2023-11 - Present · 2 yrs 11 mos

KSA , Qatar , IRAQ

Leading strategic procurement across a multi-country portfolio of ultra-luxury hospitality and infrastructure projects in Qatar, KSA, and Iraq. Key responsibilities and achievements: • Pioneered market entry into KSA and Iraq for the Group — building supplier and subcontractor ecosystems from zero, expanding the approved vendor list by 150+ local suppliers across both markets. • Achieved 15%+ cost savings through value engineering and strategic sourcing across the active portfolio. • Directing procurement for landmark projects including Amaala Rosewood Hotel (KSA), Red Sea International Airport fit-out (KSA), Sindalah Island — six luxury restaurants and Yacht Club (KSA), Rixos Hotel Iraq, and a Qatar VVVIP portfolio. • Negotiating complex commercial supply and subcontract agreements; applying FIDIC frameworks and MCIArb standing to resolve disputes and protect organizational interests. Skills: Strategic Procurement · FIDIC Contract Administration · Value Engineering · Vendor Management · SAP Ariba · Oracle ERP · Commercial Governance · Claims Management

Procurement and technical Manager

Gettco Construction

2021-4 - 2023-11 · 2 yrs 8 mos

Qatar

Led technical office operations and procurement strategy across a luxury hospitality portfolio in Qatar. • Directed full technical and commercial delivery for Element by Westin City Centre (fit-out & MEP), City Centre Mall renovation (construction & MEP), and Al Samriya Autograph Collection Hotel. • Developed and executed commercial strategies to maximize profitability while mitigating contractual and operational risk across a QAR 350M+ portfolio. • Ensured all technical deliverables met rigorous quality, engineering, and commercial standards across multidisciplinary teams. Skills: Technical Office Management · Procurement · Commercial Management · FIDIC · Subcontract Administration · Cost Control · Hospitality Projects

Procurement Manager

Harinsa Contracting Company Qatar WLL

2020-12 - 2021-4 · 5 mos

Doha, Qatar

Group Procurement, Commercial & Contracts Manager

Hassanesco Trading & Contracting Co.

2018-12 - 2020-12 · 2 yrs 1 mo

Doha, Qatar

Appointed to build and lead the Group's procurement, commercial, and contracts function across a major Qatar construction cluster. • Designed and implemented a new procurement system from scratch — establishing standardized policies, vendor frameworks, commercial benchmarks, and governance controls across the cluster. • Led procurement and commercial management for major government programs including Police College Complex, ALFazaa Headquarters, 276-Villa Compound for Milaha Qatar, and the New Student Affairs Building at Qatar University. • Negotiated high-stakes contractual agreements applying FIDIC expertise and MCIArb standing to achieve favorable financial outcomes and protect organizational revenue. Skills: Procurement Systems · FIDIC Administration · Commercial Management · Contract Negotiation · Government Projects · Claims · Cost Control · Team Leadership

Project Manager – Owner's Representative

Confidential Client

2016-2 - 2018-12 · 2 yrs 11 mos

Doha, Qatar

Appointed as Owner's Representative for a private client, managing end-to-end delivery of three concurrent residential and hospitality developments in Qatar. • Provided full owner-side project oversight from design coordination through contractor procurement, FIDIC contract administration, variation management, and commercial handover. • Projects included a luxury hotel apartment development, a VVIP villa, and a residential apartment building (B+G+7). Skills: Owner's Representative · Project Management · FIDIC · Contract Administration · Variation Management · Design Coordination

Procurement Manager & Project Manager

Shannon Engineering Company

2007-8 - 2016-1 · 8 yrs 6 mos

Doha, Qatar

Spent 8+ years at Shannon Engineering, progressing from Site Engineer to Procurement Manager and ultimately Project Manager — building the company's procurement capability from the ground up. • Established the company's first structured procurement system — vendor frameworks, subcontract strategies, and commercial governance that underpinned project delivery for over a decade. • Served as Procurement Manager on landmark Qatar projects including Lexus Showroom, Wakhra Boulevard, Dukhan Tower, and 100-Villa Compound — managing full sourcing, tendering, and subcontract administration. • Successfully negotiated and closed QAR 82M+ in variations across key projects — QAR 40M on Lexus Showroom, QAR 22M on Wakhra Boulevard, QAR 20M on Golden Tulip Hotel. • Promoted to Project Manager, delivering the Mannai Car Parking Project with full accountability for planning, budget, procurement, and handover. Skills: Procurement Management · Variation & Claims Management · FIDIC · Subcontract Administration · Project Management · Cost Control · Supplier Development