FAHAD ALI
Event Operations, Logistics, Production
Dubai
Summary
Experiential events and activations manager with a focus on operational management with 15 years of experience within the UAE & GCC industry. Adept at managing multiple events with their operational functioning as my main expertise. My career path during the recent past has allowed me to successfully execute project management and manage aspects of production.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
Work History
Operations Manager
Publicis Live
2024.11 - Current
- Developed and oversaw implementation of warehouse storage improvements and event logistics.
- Primary liaison with clients regarding storage and maintenance of their assets.
- Creation and implementation of event production and furniture installation plans.
- Brief and manage multiple teams of event crew during events to ensure their roles and responsibilities are well laid out, ensuring high productivity and error-free execution.
- Handled international shipping and returns for global events.
- Managing on-site execution of event operations and logistics.
- Coordinate with event venues and suppliers to ensure on-time event delivery. Including relevant permits where applicable.
- Developed and maintained relationships with external vendors and suppliers.
- Negotiated contracts with vendors and suppliers to obtain best pricing and terms.
- Supervised event operations staff and ensured their compliance with event and venue policies and procedures.
Project Manager
IBS Group
2023.12 - 2024.11
- Primary point of contact for clients during the project lifecycle, maintaining strong communication and relationship management
- Coordinate with various internal teams and external vendors to ensure seamless project execution.
- Ensure all relevant paperwork (RAMS, Crewing, trucking etc.) is completed and submitted in time for obtaining relevant permits.
- Organising trucking to and from production warehouse to site, ensuring items are ready to be dispatched after quality checks.
- Establishing individual project communication between internal departments by defining project objectives, setting timelines, allocating resources, identifying priorities etc. to ensure the team works in sync.
- On-ground event scenic delivery management.
- Met project deadlines without sacrificing build quality or workplace safety.
- Coordinated cross-functional teams and resolved conflicts, maintaining a positive work environment throughout the project lifecycle.
- Collaborated closely with senior management to align project objectives with strategic company initiatives, ensuring that efforts contributed to overall business growth.
Production Manager
Be Experiential
2023.05 - 2023.11
- Overlooking procurement from production suppliers
- Create and manage production schedule
- Engaging with new suppliers and understanding how a partnership would be beneficial to both organisations
- Supporting the creative team during pitch phase in order to provide a clear understanding of budgets and production techniques/innovations to eventually include into creative ideas
- Post-Production management ensuring projects are delivered as per the expected quality and schedule
- Maintaining existing supplier relationships
- Complete briefing of new projects to suppliers in order to share expectations and budgets
- Process also involved price negotiations with suppliers in order to maintain the highest possible profit margins per project
- Preparing BOQ based on creative decks to share with suppliers and receive costs accordingly, perform cost analysis and award production to most suited supplier accordingly
- Working with project management team to ensure projects remain on-time and on-budget
Operations Manager
Winter Wonderland Doha
2022.07 - 2023.04
- Sourcing and being the main point of contact for the appointed activations, medical, FF&E, Waste Management operators/suppliers
- Ensuring all contracts and deliverables are maintained in the buildup and during the live period of event
- Constantly monitoring site plans and updating any changes to the appointed vendors
- Creation and management of the load in and build/install schedule in conjunction with logistics and site management for all amusement, games & entertainment vendors
- Inputting into the master production schedule, tracking, and reporting of confirmed productions on the entertainment stage and circus tent
- Coordinating with IMG site and site teams to schedule rider specific installs and any incoming productions on the performance stage and circus tent
- Scheduling in coordination with IMG site and logistic managers for daily productions and amusement/games operator's requirements
- Creating, managing and maintaining production master daily run sheets, crew/operator timings and performance/show calls.
- Review's operator's emergency procedures and enforces IMG's and the Event rules and regulations to prevent safety hazards across all managed areas
- Oversee troubleshooting of all problems and mediates any conflict
Logistics & Facilities Manager
USA Pavilion
2020.01 - 2022.06
- Adopt a proactive approach to application of Expo 2020 regulations, requirements, and timelines across all venue operations
- Liaise as required with Expo 2020 on behalf of Pavilion management
- Communicate with relevant USA Pavilion teams in regard to the set-up and load out of the USA Pavilion Business Program events and functions as required including coordinating the movement of required equipment and special items for these events
- Fulfilment of ground-based logistics duties including staff accreditation, access, staff vehicles, accommodation, etc
- Provide fast, efficient, friendly, and courteous customer service to all partners, suppliers, stakeholders, and visitors to the USA Pavilion
- Take the lead on any preparations required for the decommissioning phase of the project
- Ensure there is a well-developed understanding and appreciation of Pavilion wide operations, events, activities, and impacts
- Process accreditation, visa, customs, vehicle passes and other essential paperwork to facilitate visits and activity relating to the USA Pavilion
- Support the planning, coordination, and management of visits by VIPs to the USA Pavilion
- Support the coordination of travel, accommodation and transport for cultural performers and special visitors to the USA Pavilion
- Liaise with VIPs' staff and security organizations to ensure safe and reliable VIP transfers
- Ensure that USA Pavilion goods are transported safely, according to schedule and in compliance at all times
- Performance manage USA Pavilion Drivers and transport entities to ensure that they are completing all tasks and responsibilities to the required standard
- Ensure that all vehicles are regularly maintained, safety checks are conducted, and all trips are accurately recorded in logbooks
- Work cooperatively with the warehouse team in regard to all freight and logistics relating to the USA Pavilion
- Ensure deliveries in and out of the Expo 2020 site are in accordance with site and USA Pavilion policies, procedures, requirements, and schedules
- Maintain an accurate asset register of all USA Pavilion assets throughout the life of the event
- Take lead in venue procurement requirements including daily FFE and any specific production requirements
- Overseeing activation & event installations by suppliers within pavilion
- Including procurement of all daily operational items for the duration of the event, both purchase based and production related
Asst. Site Manager
UFC 257, Flash Entertainment
2021.01 - 2021.02
Operations Manager
Sweetwater
2014.11 - 2020.07
- Operations manager for award-winning Sheraton 'Delight My Journey' campaign at Dubai Airport
- Managed operations of challenging activations for high demand clients such as adidas, Absolut, British American Tobacco, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Ferrero, GE, IKEA, Netflix, Reebok, Swarovski, Unilever amongst others
- Managed on-ground operations and production executive for Netflix activation at Saudi Comic Con, 2018. Jeddah, KSA
- Operations and production manager for various adidas and Reebok in-store activations in Jeddah, KSA
- Operations executive for British American Tobacco activations in Dammam, Riyadh, Jeddah - KSA
- On-ground operations for adidas in-mall activations. Doha, Qatar
- Operations and production manager for Reebok mall activations in Islamabad, Karachi - Pakistan
- Show planner and Show caller - Sun and Sands Schools Got Talent 2018
- Managing transportation plans for event guests and implementing these plans including supervision of transport coordinators
- Coordination of VIP transport on ground and in real-time
- Handling various events and activation aspects from planning, costing, budgets, implementation to pack up
- Managing and overseeing events on the day of, including problem-solving, directing event set-up, communicating with staff, and organising vendors
- Preparing and managing full-scale budgets
- Negotiating contracts and agreements
- Relaying production specifications to suppliers and following up production status physically
- Understanding any venue build restrictions and amending production accordingly
- Manage & supervise suppliers flow of work and deliverables against deadlines
- Ensure on-ground presence and manage installation of all set-up elements
- Manage all project related logistics
- Manage project-related procurement through suppliers both local and foreign
- Works closely with Client Servicing, Finance, Creative and ensure information flow on day-to-day basis
- Managing approvals, rentals and permissions for key accounts, malls, outdoors
- Manage a team of supervisors, promoters and merchandising representatives to fulfill campaign goals and ensure that results are in line with campaign KPIs
- Maintaining a healthy working relationship with vendors and venues
- Independently manage team in all areas including hiring and training of employees
- Always looking out for new/innovative solutions in the events industry
- Including the latest tech to create event experiences that can be linked to user social media
- Supplier relationship management
Stage Manager
Spinifex
2014.01 - 2014.02
Artist Liaison
Artist Liaison
2011.04 - 2011.04
Events - Freelance, Various
Events
2009.01 - 2011.04
Stage Manager
Dubai World Cup
2011.03 - 2011.03
Production Assistance
Laureus World Sports Awards
2011.01 - 2011.02
Assistant Site Supervisor
Abu Dhabi Cityscape
2010.01 - 2010.04
Stage Manager
Dubai World Cup
2010.03 - 2010.03
Assistant Site Manager
Dubai Jazz Festival
2010.02 - 2010.02
Assistant Site Supervisor
Yasalam Pre-FI events
2009.10 - 2009.11
Assistant Site Manager
Chevrolet Urban Challenge
2009.04 - 2009.05
Activation Promoter
Du
2009.01 - 2009.02
Education
BA (Hons.) - International Business
University of Huddersfield
07.2008
A - Levels - undefined
Dubai Gem School
06.2005
Skills
Operations management
Problem-solving
Client Communications
Staff management
Logistics management
Vendor sourcing
Warehouse operations
Timeline
Operations Manager
Publicis Live
2024.11 - Current
Project Manager
IBS Group
2023.12 - 2024.11
Production Manager
Be Experiential
2023.05 - 2023.11
Operations Manager
Winter Wonderland Doha
2022.07 - 2023.04
Asst. Site Manager
UFC 257, Flash Entertainment
2021.01 - 2021.02
Logistics & Facilities Manager
USA Pavilion
2020.01 - 2022.06
Operations Manager
Sweetwater
2014.11 - 2020.07
Stage Manager
Spinifex
2014.01 - 2014.02
Artist Liaison
Artist Liaison
2011.04 - 2011.04
Stage Manager
Dubai World Cup
2011.03 - 2011.03
Production Assistance
Laureus World Sports Awards
2011.01 - 2011.02
Stage Manager
Dubai World Cup
2010.03 - 2010.03
Assistant Site Manager
Dubai Jazz Festival
2010.02 - 2010.02
Assistant Site Supervisor
Abu Dhabi Cityscape
2010.01 - 2010.04
Assistant Site Supervisor
Yasalam Pre-FI events
2009.10 - 2009.11
Assistant Site Manager
Chevrolet Urban Challenge
2009.04 - 2009.05
Events - Freelance, Various
Events
2009.01 - 2011.04
Activation Promoter
Du
2009.01 - 2009.02
A - Levels - undefined
Dubai Gem School
BA (Hons.) - International Business
University of Huddersfield