Ali Yousif Al Hammadi
Abu Dhabi
Summary
A passionate leader with strong communication skills and long track of senior management experience in sports management, real estate, infrastructure, tourism and commercial projects. Proven record of leading prestigious projects such as Louvre Abu Dhabi Museum, 5-star hotels, residential and retail developments in addition to the merger of three different governmental entities into “Tourism & Culture Authority” with placement of more than 1000 employees.
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
Work History
Chief Operating Officer
IMI Media
03.2025 - Current
- Support the CEO in setting and executing the Group’s operational strategy, ensuring scalability of operations across all business units. Provide strategic insights and recommendations to drive growth, operational optimization, and business transformation.
- Lead cross-functional initiatives that enhance service delivery, operational governance, and overall organizational capability.
- Oversee Business Support, Facilities Management, Government Relations, Logistics Operations, Corporate Security & Risk, Procurement, People Services, and the Academy.
- Establish and monitor governance frameworks, compliance mandates, and operational controls.
- Own the Group’s operational KPIs, ensuring tracking, reporting, and delivery against performance targets.
- Drive operational cost optimization strategies and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Foster leadership capability and succession planning within key operational roles.
- Guide and oversee government relations to ensure compliance with regulatory frameworks and support business continuity.
- Strengthen strategic relationships with relevant authorities to support the organization’s industry influence.
Group Chief Executive Officer
Al Jazira Club
06.2020 - 06.2024
- Developed and led the implementation of a comprehensive Club strategy (incl. sporting, academy, financial and investment strategies).
- Developed an agile and effective org. structure and built a solid management team while driving efficiencies and reducing ineffective resources.
- Developed a robust governance framework (incl. policies & procedures, delegation of authorities (“DOA”) and comprehensive contract module) which helped ensure effective and efficient decision making.
- Led the closure of any legal claims and ensured that no new claims were initiated against the club.
- Optimized costs, ensured that timely repayment of debts and enhanced commercial and investment returns.
- Revamped website and social media platforms and enhanced their content.
PMO member – Chairman Office (secondment)
Abu Dhabi Media Company
07.2019 - 06.2020
- Revised strategy & operating model to be audience centric rather than platform-led while being commercially responsible to ensure alignment of content, synergies across platforms, maximal reach and influence and maximal returns.
- Developed targets and KPIs in line with the new strategy.
- Revised org. structure in line with new operating model & strategy.
- Recruited critical senior positions to lead new strategy implementation.
- Regular review and oversight of budget to optimize expenditure and maximize return on investment in content and other resources.
- Revised DOA matrix and policies & procedures to drive efficient and effective operations while ensuring adequate governance.
Chairman Advisor
Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC)
09.2015 - 09.2015
Chief Executive Officer
Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC)
06.2014 - 09.2015
Executive Director – Joint Business Operations
Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority (TCAAD)
01.2013 - 09.2014
- Successfully led the merger of AD Tourism Authority and AD Cultural and Heritage authority to become TCA AD.
- Developed vision and strategy and communicated across the organization.
- Provided regular reports to the board on key decisions, financial status, project status, and other key strategic matters.
- Recruited and retained key staff members and developed a performance driven organization through clear objective and positive culture.
- Built alliances and partnerships with other organizations.
- Developed and maintained a solid corporate governance framework.
- Related Positions Held:
- BoT Chairman, Cranleigh School AD
- ExCom Chairman, TDIC
- Board member, Qaryat Al Beri Co. LLC
- Board member, TDIC F&B Co. LLC
- Board member, Education Co. LLC
- GM, Desert Island Co. LLC
Deputy Managing Director
Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC)
02.2013 - 06.2014
Executive Director – Project Services
Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC)
04.2011 - 02.2013
- Updated manuals and procedures in project services department as needed to adopt best practice to ensure highest values captured.
- Continuous dialogue between project services department with other TDIC departments to make sure policies have been adhered to.
- Setting up cost monitoring and reporting systems and procedures.
- Participating effectively in VE exercises as needed to manage project costs.
- Managing TDIC procurement of suppliers, vendors, and contractors in competitive and transparent manner that maintains company interests and reputation.
- Supporting and advising the CEO on critical and strategic issues as needed and wherever appropriate.
- Managing TDIC’s relationship with other government departments on strategic levels as appropriate and needed.
- Delegating tasks and responsibilities to appropriate personnel.
- Coaching, mentoring, motivating and supervising project team members and contractors, and influencing them to take positive action and accountability for their assigned work.
- Building, developing, and growing any business relationships vital to the success of the projects especially with government authorities.
- Tracking projects milestones and deliverables.
Director – Special Projects & Government Relations
Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC)
10.2009 - 03.2011
Assistant Development Director and Government Liaison
Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC)
07.2008 - 09.2009
Senior Development Manager
Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC)
08.2007 - 06.2008
- Pre-design Phases:
- Supporting primary efforts of the Development Managers.
- Maintaining awareness of vision and goals to ensure its implementation.
- Working closely with dev. staff to shape & identify relevant delivery methods.
- Forecasting construction durations for various schemes proposed.
- Identifying decisions requiring sr. management input and prepare recommendations & presentations to facilitate such decision making as required.
- Design Phases:
- Supporting the primary efforts of the Design managers.
- Providing input on the availability of proposed building systems, particularly when there is a cost differential among alternatives.
- Developing tender package strategy, as to early works, partial scopes, and timing relative to document completion.
- Providing input to any value engineering activities.
- Tender Phases:
- Working with Commercial managers to schedule the timing of advertisements, pre-qualifications, and tenders and evaluate prequalification responses and tender proposals.
- Construction Phases:
- Managing project management consultants, cost consultants, and contractors for each assigned project, incl. key scope, schedule, cost, and teamwork factors.
- Functioning as Owner’s Representative and insisting on full provision of contracted services by the Project Management Consultant.
- Communicating with executives, including project status, reporting up and horizontally with regularity and understanding of the corporate cultures.
- Recommending cost effective materials whenever opportunities arise.
- Coordinating with teams affecting design such as infrastructure, residential, retail leasing, office leasing, hotel operator, marketing, community operations, finance, accounting, legal, risk management and entitlements.
- Coordinating detailed handover procedures with TDIC Ops & any contracted operator.
Project Manager
Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC)
11.2006 - 08.2007
- Assisting with the coordination of team members, other units and stakeholders on projects to understand all project management disciplines including business case development, project and resource planning, budget management, requirements planning, management reporting, quality assurance, risk management, business process analysis and design, contract negotiation.
- Upholding the project management strategy, timeline schedules, set deadlines and ensuring all relevant parties are meeting deadlines as required.
- Project administration, including financial records, reports and evaluation of completed work, with unit leaders and resources.
- Maintaining standard operating procedures for projects and putting in place a continuous improvement process for SOPs to ensure international museum best practice procedures are followed by the department enabling consistency and quality across the unit in its efforts to meet departmental objectives and goals.
Project Management
ADCO
01.2002 - 01.2006
- Operational
- Ensuring all operations are undertaken in a safe manner in accordance with UAE law and company HSE Policy.
- Supervising and coordinating multiple contractors.
- Controlling and directing multi-disciplinary, multinational workforce.
- Reviewing and revising (where required) procedure in conjunction with Project Engineering.
- Reviewing and updating project programs on a regular and as-needed basis.
- Contractual / Commercial
- Ensuring Project Team has a clear understanding of contract and applicable obligations.
- Close liaison with commercial management.
- Reviewing risk analysis development and managing the procedure/ schedule.
- Evaluating technical tenders.
- Procuring materials on day to day basis.
- Specialist Engineering
- Maintaining production asset values and integrity.
- Providing good facilities and promoting HSE best practices.
- Adopting cost effective practices and optimizing the cost of implementing the previous two points.
- Complying with local regulations and recommended international standards.
- Benefiting ADCO, through enhancement of technical appreciation and training of employees.
- Continuous revision of practices and the introduction of new technologies and long term “performance enhancement” practices.
Education
Master in Business Administrations (MBA) -
Abu Dhabi University
01.2008
Bachelor - Electrical Engineering
Florida Institute of Technology
Melbourne, FL, USA01.2002
Skills
- Management Skills
- Problem Solving
- Negotiation
- Leadership
- Operational strategy
Timeline
Chief Operating Officer
IMI Media
03.2025 - Current
Group Chief Executive Officer
Al Jazira Club
06.2020 - 06.2024
PMO member – Chairman Office (secondment)
Abu Dhabi Media Company
07.2019 - 06.2020
Chairman Advisor
Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC)
09.2015 - 09.2015
Chief Executive Officer
Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC)
06.2014 - 09.2015
Deputy Managing Director
Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC)
02.2013 - 06.2014
Executive Director – Joint Business Operations
Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority (TCAAD)
01.2013 - 09.2014
Executive Director – Project Services
Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC)
04.2011 - 02.2013
Director – Special Projects & Government Relations
Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC)
10.2009 - 03.2011
Assistant Development Director and Government Liaison
Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC)
07.2008 - 09.2009
Senior Development Manager
Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC)
08.2007 - 06.2008
Project Manager
Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC)
11.2006 - 08.2007
Project Management
ADCO
01.2002 - 01.2006
Bachelor - Electrical Engineering
Florida Institute of Technology
Master in Business Administrations (MBA) -
Abu Dhabi University