FADY S. EL BORNO
Dubai
Summary
Visionary Emirati leader with 19+ years of experience in government transformation, urban innovation, and real estate mega projects. Executive Director of Strategic Affairs at Abu Dhabi's Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT), leading high-impact public sector reforms, performance governance, and international innovation programs. Renowned for enhancing institutional capabilities, harmonizing multi-entity strategies, and achieving citizen-centric outcomes within intricate ecosystems.
Overview
22
22
years of professional experience
Work History
Executive Director – Strategic Affairs Sector
Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT)
09.2022 - Current
- Spearheaded DMT Transformation Program, including organizational restructuring, operating model realignment, and multi-entity strategy integration.
- Established Future Hub fostering urban experimentation, research collaborations, and next-gen service design.
- Introduced Executive Performance Contracts linked to KPIs, citizen satisfaction & policy outcomes.
- Created Business Intelligence Unit, consolidating data pipelines and embedding predictive analytics.
- Driving revenue diversification & cost optimization for DMT entities.
General Manager – Joint Ventures (UAE) & Executive Board Member
Emaar Properties
01.2015 - 01.2022
- Led development of USD 15B mega-projects (Emaar South, Dubai Hills, Mina Rashid) in partnership with Dubai South and Meeras.
- Oversaw cross-functional teams for feasibility, design, sales, and financial performance across joint ventures.
- Developed P&L models and return-on-investment strategies that consistently exceeded investor expectations.
Managing Director – Emaar Middle East
Emaar Properties
01.2013 - 01.2015
- Led financial turnaround for USD 1B+ portfolio in KSA.
- Repositioned major projects through product redesign & market alignment.
Regional Director – International Operations
Emaar Corporate Office
01.2011 - 01.2013
- Managed projects exceeding USD 3B in value and led strategic assessments for regional expansion and risk planning.
- Delivered USD 55M in sales across international markets.
Development Director / Manager
Emaar KAEC & Corporate Office
01.2006 - 01.2011
- Oversaw master planning for 168M sq.m King Abdullah Economic City.
- Led Future Growth Strategy with McKinsey & Co.
Management Trainee
Emaar Dubai
01.2004 - 01.2006
- Rotated across key departments supporting financial feasibility & strategic evaluations.
- Supported financial feasibility assessments and strategic evaluations for new real estate projects.
Education
Executive MBA -
London Business School
Dubai01.2021
BBA - Management
American University in Dubai
Dubai01.2004
Skills
- Strategic leadership
- Performance Governance & Executive Accountability
- Stakeholder Engagement & Board-Level Influence
- International Expansion & Cross-Border Operations
- Urban Innovation & Future-Ready Governance
- Public-Private Partnerships & Financial Structuring
Publications
- Integrating Large Language Models (LLM) Into Entrepreneurial Ventures: Exploring the Potential Of AI-Driven Innovation in Start-Ups. BLE International Conference, Leadership, Innovation and Responsibility in Global Business (In Press). (Scopus Indexed).
- Theory Building or Theory Testing: How Can Artificial Intelligence Benefit Entrepreneurship Research BLE International Conference, Leadership, Innovation and Responsibility in Global Business (In Press). (Scopus Indexed).
Accomplishments
- DMT Future Hub – Founded Abu Dhabi’s flagship urban innovation platform in partnership with MIT Senseable City Lab and NUS Cities, advancing city-tech solutions and experimental governance.
- Performance Governance Overhaul – Institutionalized a KPI-linked performance evaluation framework for senior leadership to drive accountability and strategic alignment.
- Integrated Strategic Delivery Model – Unified DMT-wide strategies into a KPI-driven execution model enabling cross-sectoral coordination and impact tracking.
- Data-Driven Decision Systems – Created DMT’s Business Intelligence Unit, embedding predictive analytics into executive planning.
- Organization-Wide Transformation – Restructured strategy, service delivery, and governance across all DMT sectors in alignment with UAE Vision 2071 and Abu Dhabi Government TOM.
- Mega Project Leadership – Directed USD 15B+ joint ventures such as Emaar South, Dubai Hills, Mina Rashid, and Emaar Beachfront.
- Turnaround Expert – Led corporate restructuring at Emaar KSA & Emaar Middle East, delivering sustainable profitability and stakeholder confidence.
Affiliations
- Arts Club Dubai
LANGUAGES & INTERESTS
Arabic (Native), English (Fluent), French (Proficient)
Hobbies and Interests
Urbanism, Art Collecting, Cross Fitness
Timeline
Executive Director – Strategic Affairs Sector
Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT)
09.2022 - Current
General Manager – Joint Ventures (UAE) & Executive Board Member
Emaar Properties
01.2015 - 01.2022
Managing Director – Emaar Middle East
Emaar Properties
01.2013 - 01.2015
Regional Director – International Operations
Emaar Corporate Office
01.2011 - 01.2013
Development Director / Manager
Emaar KAEC & Corporate Office
01.2006 - 01.2011
Management Trainee
Emaar Dubai
01.2004 - 01.2006
Executive MBA -
London Business School
BBA - Management
American University in Dubai
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