ABDULLA BAGHOUM

• Executive leadership of enterprise-wide operations, smart infrastructure, digital transformation programs, and AI strategy for national-scale telecommunications:
• Designed and implemented du’s TechOps 2.0 — a fully AI-native, cloud-integrated operations ecosystem supporting 24x7x365 resilience, CX orchestration, and predictive fault intelligence.
• Built the UAE’s first SmartSOC 2.: an AI-driven, real-time digital command center unifying SLAs, compliance, ESG metrics, and cross-domain KPIs — now positioned as a national model.
• Led the architecture and rollout of Zero-Touch Operations Powered by AIOps, IPA, and service mesh observability tools — automating incident detection, resolution, and resource routing.
• Championed the shift to Sovereign cloud environments and ensured architectural compliance with national AI, privacy, and telecom security frameworks.
• Launched and scaled a Command-layer orchestration engine synchronizing infrastructure layers, regulatory workflows, workforce planning, and customer-facing digital journeys.
• Directed the integration of WFM systems, CX intelligence tools, and predictive analytics across 60+ operations domains.
• Guided internal transformation of operational culture: 300+ engineers upskilled in AI workflows, agile playbooks, and digital service intelligence.
• Achieved AED 500M+ in multi-year efficiency savings across maintenance, energy, and workforce channels.

AI INNOVATION & STRATEGIC SUSTAINABILITY:

• Led du’s national AI-powered energy optimization initiative - winner of the 2025 Du AI International Championship.
• Deployed AI-powered optimization across mobile sites, reducing site-level power use by 4.8%, saving 16.25M kWh annually and AED 85M OpEx.
• Delivered environmental impact equal to planting 410,000+ trees/year. Currently scaling program to 7,000+ sites.
• Filed UAE patent (2020) for

Friction-fit solar ring tower assembly

Enabling fast-track hybridization of telecom infrastructure.

STRATEGIC IMPACT & THOUGHT LEADERSHIP:

• Created and operationalized the Telecom AI Blueprint- a sovereign-aligned roadmap for AI autonomy, SLA enforcement, and data sovereignty.
• Serve as active advisor to national AI and telecom councils, contributing to policy-shaping discussions on ethics, automation, and hyperscale architecture.
• Represent du in executive forums, GCC collaborations, and sovereign taskforce for digital innovation and AI resilience.

• Engineered real-time, AI-powered audit platforms reducing manual audit hours by 60% and achieving >98% compliance with TRA and cybersecurity mandates.
• Built unified governance dashboards aligning CX performance with national AI ethics and digital sovereignty goals.

• Directed the enterprise-wide shift from legacy operations to intelligent automation — saving AED 120M through IPA deployment across 45+ functional areas.
• Created an Agile ChangeOps engine managing 10,000+ annual infrastructure changes with zero SLA violations.

• Led UAE-wide SDN/NFV transformation and GPON rollout across 2,500+ nodes, positioning du for hyperscale cloud and 5G readiness.
• Consolidated legacy network operations into predictive, AI-observable environments for enhanced MTTR and CX.

• Executed AED 500M+ in infrastructure programs across Emaar, TECOM, and Dubai Holding smart precincts.
• Delivered the UAE’s first telecom-GIS integration platform supporting smart city operations for 45+ public sector agencies.