ULI hires Shahswar Al Balushi as Executive Director of Middle East/North Africa

Shahswar Al Balushi, former chief executive officer of the Oman Society for Petroleum Services, has been named to the new position. He started in the post 1st September.

ULI, established in Washington, D.C. in 1936, is a nonprofit education and research institute dedicated to responsible land use supported by its members. Its mission is to provide leadership in the responsible use of land and in sustaining and creating thriving communities worldwide. Richard M. Rosan is president, ULI Worldwide, and William P. Kistler is president, ULI Europe, Middle East, Africa and India. Currently, ULI has more than 40,000 members worldwide, including more than 3,000 in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and India.

Rosan said the appointment of an Executive Director for the Middle East and North African regions will enable ULI to more effectively meet the needs of members and potential members throughout these markets, and to offer more tailored conferences, programmes and services.

He said:

'As ULI grows globally, we are implementing a growth strategy for our organisation to better match our program of work to the needs of our members. ULI has tremendous potential as a global land use network, providing knowledge and information no other organisation can match.'

Al Balushi is an 'excellent choice' for the new position, Kistler said. 'I am confident that with Shahswar's expertise, ULI can reach deeper into individual markets in each of these countries. Our success in these areas is a key example of what ULI can accomplish worldwide,' he said. 'The pressing need for more sustainable development on an international basis is generating an ever-rising demand for ULI services and products around the globe.'

Over the past several months, a robust and wide-ranging programme of activities has been hosted by ULI in the Middle East, including real estate education workshops, two leadership roundtables, an advisory services panel in Dubai, and a conference on sustainable development in Abu Dhabi.

The ULI office serving the Middle East and North Africa is part of the ULI Middle East Centre, including a Centre for Real Estate Education, which was established in Abu Dhabi in November 2007. This education centre will offer a broad range of courses in real estate development, valuation, contract management, and urban and regional development, investment, and economics. In November 2008, the education centre is offering two courses, 'Real Estate Marketing,' 9-10 November, which will define the role of marketing through each stage of the development process; and 'Real Estate Negotiation,' 12-13 November, a new course that will provide a conceptual framework to prepare for and participate in real estate negotiations. Both courses will be held at the Al Bustan Rotana Hotel in Dubai.

The Middle East Centre and the Centre for Real Estate Education will ultimately be located within the new Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC) headquarters under construction adjacent to Maqta Bridge-the gateway to Abu Dhabi city. TDIC is the development arm of the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority.

The centre will also house the ULI Middle East District Council, which currently has more than 230 members. This membership total represents a 55% increase over the previous year, and is the largest growth in percentage terms across the core ULI EMEA region.

Lee Tabler, chairman of the ULI Middle East Council and chief executive officer of TDIC, said:

'Over the past year, the Middle East has been responsible for some of the world's largest real estate projects, and development is now one of the fastest growing sectors in the region. The ULI Middle East Center will assist and support events that are aimed at facilitating the open exchange of ideas, information and experience among local, national and international industry leaders and policy makers.'

As executive director of ULI's Abu Dhabi office, Al Balushi will be responsible for the oversight of the Institute's program of work in the Gulf and wider Middle East/North Africa Regions. He will be building the Middle East Center with a team based in Abu Dhabi. His focus will be on developing professional development and education programs as well as expanding ULI's research, conference, advisory services and other activities. Al Balushi will also work with the District Council Executive Committee to develop overall strategy for ULI in Middle East, and with EMEA leadership to implement ULI's mission and vision in the region.

An Omani national, Al Balushi attended the University of Clarkson, Potsdam, New York, USA and graduated with a bachelor of science degree in managerial accounting and law. From 1984 to 1994, he pursued a diversified career in management in Central Africa, Egypt and UK. In 1994, he returned to Oman and joined the OMZEST Group. Two years later, Al Balushi entered the oil and gas industry and worked to develop the Oman Consumer Gas Project. In April 2002, he became chief executive officer of OPAL. Over the years he has acquired extensive experience in startups and has built substantial network of contacts and relationships within the region and overseas in the private and public sector.

The Urban Land Institute is a global non-profit research and education institute supported by its members. The mission of the Urban Land Institute is to provide leadership in the responsible use of land and in creating and sustaining thriving communities nationwide.