Our Approach

At SSH, we operate under strict legal and ethical guidelines in all our endeavors. We foster a challenging yet rewarding environment for our employees, with an unwavering commitment to professional excellence, health and safety, and environmental sustainability. Our mission is to collaboratively shape future environments through innovation, creativity, and teamwork.

From planning to development, we continuously strive to elevate our creative, design, technical, process, and commercial expertise, staying ahead of our competitors. Our collaborative approach is embedded throughout our organisation, ensuring that clients and partners view us as the trusted firm for exceptional design and seamless project delivery across the region.

Our Values

Integrity: We act with honesty, transparency, and respect in all interactions, ensuring that trust is at the center of our relationships with clients, partners, and colleagues.

Accountability: We take ownership of our actions and consistently deliver on commitments, building confidence and long-term partnerships.

Empowerment: We inspire and support our people to achieve their potential, fostering creativity and ensuring success in delivering our vision.

Collaboration: We collaborate closely with clients, partners, and colleagues, both internally and externally, to deliver successful results through teamwork, trust, and mutual respect.

Innovation: We embrace creativity, technology, and forward-thinking solutions to shape a sustainable and impactful built environment.

Sustainability: We integrate environmentally responsible practices into our designs and delivery to create long-term value for communities and our planet.

Safety: We are uncompromising in our commitment to the health, safety, and well-being of people and communities.

Our Quality, Health and Safety, and Environmental Culture

Our quality philosophy is derived from a simple goal: ‘To recognise the needs of our customers and to fulfil them’. We adopt global best practice standards in the delivery of our services and maintain an environment of self-evaluation and continuous improvement.

We consider it our duty to design lasting architectural solutions that mitigate their lifecycle impact on environmental resources, as well as protect and enhance the wellbeing of the communities they serve. We actively encourage key project stakeholders to continually improve their own quality, health, safety and environmental performance standards and to share best practice as a means of improving and driving our industry forward, thereby helping them to protect lives, property and reputation. Every employee at SSH forms part of the organisation’s safety team, creating a total safety culture.

Our attention remains on quality execution to deliver the absolute best to our clients and each other by constantly reviewing our metrics.

SSH certifications:

ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System
ISO 45001:2018 Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) Management System
ISO 14001:2015 Environmental Management System
ISO/IEC 27001:2013 Information Security Management System

Our sustainable development objective, through both design and practice, is to be global citizens in the local markets we serve.

ISQHSE Policy

Matt Squires

Chief Executive Officer

Matt joined SSH in July 2013 and in early 2014, he became Managing Director for all SSH’s territories. In 2015, Matt’s support of the Oman office was instrumental in SSH being awarded Consultant of the Year at the Construction Week Oman Awards.

The following year, Matt became Chief Operating Officer of SSH across all territories, overseeing the company’s divisional reports for the Building, Infrastructure and Construction Services divisions. In this role, he not only spearheaded the diversification of revenue streams across SSH’s regional and international markets, he also drove the expansion of the company’s project portfolio across its territories.

In 2017, Matt was appointed as Chief Executive Officer of SSH and aims to strengthen the company’s position as a trusted collaborator to its clients and strategic partners, as well as encourage new business.

Before joining SSH, Matt worked at Atkins for 16 years, in later years being the Managing Director for the Oman office covering master planning, buildings, infrastructure and site operations. Prior to this, Matt was Design Solutions Director Designate for the Northern Gulf Business.

Matt’s geographic experience extends to the GCC, Eastern Europe and the UK. During his time at Atkins Oman, he received the Consultant of the Year Award from Construction Week Magazine and was also named Executive of the Year. These awards recognised Matt’s strong leadership and client skills, as well as his ability to identify and develop young engineering and design talent.

He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering from Southampton University in the UK, and is a chartered member of the UK Institute of Civil Engineers.

Danny Warde

Chief Strategy Officer

Danny joined SSH in 2008 and was responsible for establishing the Oman office and was instrumental in raising our profile within Oman, culminating in SSH winning an award for the Junoot Eco Resort project at the World Architecture Festival (WAF) in Singapore and the Oman Consultant of the Year Award in 2014. Following these successes Danny has joined the company’s C-suite regional team to drive our expansion into outer MENA markets, including Algeria, Egypt and Morocco. He is leading the development of corporate and territorial marketing plans whilst ensuring their implementation is consistent with corporate growth goals, actively participating in strategic development and the pursuit of clients and project opportunities locally and regionally.

Prior to joining SSH Danny worked for KUCM and gained experience working on Kuwait International Airport Gateway Hotel, Bahrain Duty Free Shopping Mall and the American University of Kuwait. Danny is experienced in leading multidisciplinary project design and construction supervision teams, has extensive commercial management experience, and speaks English, Arabic and French fluently.

He has a DESS’ Degree in Architecture from the University of Balamand and he is a Chartered Professional Architect with the Lebanese Society of Engineers and Architects.

Mark O Brien

Chief Operating Officer

Mark has over 30 years’ experience in commercial management, operational management, programme management, and leadership. He has led teams in the UK, Europe, Asia, and, for the last 10 years, in the Middle East.

As a strategic thinker with an adaptive, collaborative style, Mark has a proven track record of leading businesses, developing people-focused cultures, delivering strategic initiatives, and improving commercial awareness. He strongly believes in creating discipline and focus on key issues, introducing processes and control systems and, ultimately, driving better delivery leading to improved financial results.

Mark joined SSH in August 2021 as Group Commercial Director. The following year, Mark became Group Delivery and Commercial Officer, taking responsibility for all design delivery in addition to his commercial role. In 2023, Mark was appointed as Chief Operating Officer and now plays a pivotal role in enhancing our operational efficiency, optimising our processes, implementing our business strategies, and ensuring the seamless execution of our delivery to clients.

Mark holds a B.Sc. degree in Quantity Surveying from Robert Gordon’s University in Scotland and is a member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

Bassam Zahreddine

Chief Financial Officer

Bassam joined SSH in 2014 as Chief Financial Officer, with more than 14 years’ experience in accounting, tax, auditing, corporate governance, risk management, internal control systems, and management of transformation projects at leading organisations.

Prior to joining SSH, he was a Director at KPMG and, before that, a Senior Manager at Deloitte, providing internal audit, corporate governance and risk management services. Bassam has worked with different industries in Kuwait and the surrounding region, including real estate, contracting, healthcare, transportation, the public sector, education, as well as hospitality, amongst others.

He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting/Finance, and is a Certified Public Accountant with the Lebanese Association of Certified Public Accountants (LACPA), Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) and a Certified Financial Services Auditor (CFSA) with the International Institute of Internal Auditors, USA. Bassam is also a member of the Project Management Institute (PMI).

Zoe McMath

Director of Marketing

Zoe joined SSH in early 2019 as Head of Marketing and is currently the Director of Marketing leading all corporate marketing and brand communication across the MENA as well as African regions. In addition to her strategic marketing efforts, Zoe directs media relations, branding, events as well as website development. She also oversees client feedback and market effectiveness.

Zoe brings more than 10 years’ experience in the marketing and advertising industry which she has gained across the MEA region as well as Europe and the UK. She has been exposed to many diverse industries, including Real Estate, Tourism, Hospitality, FMCG, Consultancy and Business Services.

Her excellent project management and planning skills make her a productive team leader with extensive experience in client and stakeholder management.

Zoe holds an Honours Degree in Marketing from the University of Ulster, Belfast, an Advanced Diploma in Management Practice from the Ulster Business School, as well as a CAM Diploma in Digital Marketing from the Chartered Institute of Marketing, Belfast.

Sophie Massant

Chief Human Resources Officer

Sophie Massant joined SSH in 2025 as Chief Human Resources Officer, leading the firm’s people strategy across the Middle East, North Africa, and Europe. She works with the leadership team to foster a culture where talent and performance thrive, supporting SSH’s ambition to deliver design excellence through its people.

Holding a Master of Laws degree from the University of Antwerp and a Diploma in Positive Psychology from Stanford University, Sophie has experience across the maritime, logistics, architecture, engineering and FinTech sectors. She has driven many HR transformations, organisational design, and leadership development initiatives across GCC, particularly in the UAE, KSA, Bahrain, Oman and Egypt.

She combines analytical rigour with empathy, balancing governance and performance with an engaging integrated people experience. A passionate advocate for psychological safety, inner development, and purpose-driven leadership, Sophie frequently speaks on building inclusive, congruent, and high-performing organisations.

Eugene Verbael

QHSE Director

Eugene Verbael joined SSH in 2025 as QHSE Director and leads the firm’s quality and audit teams, overseeing operational system training and providing client-focused support on quality and HSE matters. Dedicated to continual improvement, Eugene focuses on system analysis and performance enhancement across the organisation and its diverse project portfolio.

Holding an MSc (Hons.) degree in Project Management / TQM from the University of Liverpool, UK, Eugene brings over 27 years of international experience, including more than 20 years in the GCC’s construction, design, and engineering sector. His expertise spans civil, infrastructure, rail, retail, marine, and aviation projects – from small-scale developments to several multi-billion-dollar programmes.

As a certified QHSE Lead Auditor with over two decades of auditing experience, Eugene specialises in developing and implementing tailored integrated management systems that ensure consistent lean quality standards while driving digital optimisation across the business and its projects.

Marc Durand

Digital Delivery Director

Marc Durand joined SSH in 2024 as Digital Delivery Director, bringing over 20 years of experience at the forefront of digital innovation in the AEC industry. A visionary leader in strategic transformation, Marc is renowned for driving impactful change through the seamless integration of emerging technologies and digital solutions.

Prior to joining SSH, Marc served as Digital Disruption Director at Atkins, Dubai, where he pioneered real-time decision-making tools that significantly enhanced operational efficiency and organisational agility. He also co-founded iTech Management Consultancy, leading its global expansion and revolutionising project execution through advanced BIM methodologies.

Marc's expertise spans digital strategy, data architecture, AI integration, and product development at a global scale. His leadership is marked by a strong client-facing approach and a proven ability to deliver C-suite-level innovation that drives growth and maximises value. At SSH, Marc is focused on accelerating digital transformation across projects, embedding future-ready solutions into the heart of design and construction.

Marc holds a Master’s Degree in Industrial Data Processes from the University of Littoral, Cote d’Opale, France

Shyam Sundarlal

Director of Bidding

Shyam is a seasoned professional who embarked on his journey with SSH in 2014 as the Senior Proposals Manager. Over the years at SSH, Shyam also worked as a Project Manager delivering projects for the KSA business and managed the Project Finance Reviews (PFRs) for the KSA portfolio of projects. With a diverse background spanning bid management, project management, and commercial management, Shyam's versatility is showcased through his current pivotal role as the Director of Bidding.

In this leadership position, Shyam leads the work-winning team at SSH, driving substantial growth across diverse territories. His strategic contributions have been instrumental in the expansion of SSH’s business in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where his winning proposals have consistently secured clients. Shyam's expertise lies in pricing and tailoring proposals to meet the unique needs of clients, positioning SSH on a robust growth trajectory. Before joining SSH, he refined his project management skills at WSP Singapore, contributing to project delivery for the Public Utilities Board.

Shyam holds a bachelor's degree (Hons) in Civil Engineering from the National University of Singapore (NUS), underlining his strong foundation in the field. Complementing his technical prowess is a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from SP Jain School of Global Management, solidifying his strategic business insight. In 2024, Shyam completed the Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) programme from the National University of Singapore.

Danny Warde

Chief Strategy Officer

He has a DESS’ Degree in Architecture from the University of Balamand and he is a Chartered Professional Architect with the Lebanese Society of Engineers and Architects.

Ali Hayat

Resident Director, Kuwait

Ali Johar Hayat is the Resident Director of SSH’s Kuwait office. He has joined the executive team to lead operations in Kuwait and drive strategic initiatives to enhance the business.

Ali holds a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from Northwestern University in Boston, United States, and a master's degree in construction engineering and management from Columbia University in New York. He is also a member of the Kuwait Society of Engineers.

Following his education, Ali worked for several years for one of the largest contracting companies in the U.S. Northeast region. As part of the operating team, he played a key role in completing some of Boston's largest projects, including the Harvard University Science and Engineering Complex and the student housing project for MIT.

Following his early career in the U.S., Ali joined the SSH team in Kuwait and has held several key positions, including Deputy Resident Engineer, Deputy Building Design Operations Director, Operations Manager, and now Resident Director.

Ali overlooks SSH’s Kuwait operations including, the Building Design and Construction Supervision portfolio. He leads a diverse portfolio of projects, including the Waterfront Beautification Project, Sabah Al Ahmed S3, multiple developments in Hessah AlMubarak, Kuwait University Infrastructure packages, Boubyan Bank HQ, Adan Hospital, the Academic Support Facilities Buildings, and many other ongoing projects.

Jamal Abdulla

Resident Director, Bahrain

Jamal, the current Resident Director for Bahrain, joined SSH in November 2012 as a Senior Project Manager. Since then, he has played a key role in managing and supervising some of SSH’s major infrastructure and building design projects.

Before joining SSH, Jamal worked in Bahrain for Hyder Consulting as a Programme Manager, supporting the Bahrain Ministry of Works Central Planning Office (CPO) team that managed and coordinated the planning, design, and implementation of primary infrastructure provision associated with the major housing developments to be undertaken under a Private Public Partnership (PPP).

Through previous roles working in Bahrain for the local government (Ministry of Works) and private sector for several developers and consultants, Jamal has more than 25 years of considerable experience in the project management and supervision of highways and highway-related structures, preparing designs for major roads and highway projects, and managing all aspects of the operation and maintenance of infrastructure networks, from initial planning (early scheme development) and detailed designing to tendering, construction, and site supervision. In addition, Jamal has a management capability for business development and familiarity of the local and regional markets. He also fully comprehends all facets of the industry supply chain and key deliverables, including clients, contractors, and consultancy organisations.

Jamal obtained a master’s degree in civil engineering from Purdue University, USA, as well as a Degree in Engineering Management from the University of Bahrain. He is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), USA, a member & Traditional Fellow of the International Road Federation (IRF), USA, and an ex-member of the Project Management Institute (PMI), USA.

Gordon Bowles

Infrastructure Director

Gordon Bowles joined SSH in 2025 as Infrastructure Director, with the responsibility of growing the infrastructure business and re-establishing SSH as a leading infrastructure consultant within the GCC region. He is a Chartered Civil Engineer with 25 years of experience, 17 of which were spent in the Middle East, where he led project management and design departments. Gordon has successfully delivered large, multi-disciplinary infrastructure master planning, design, and supervision projects across the UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia.

Previously, Gordon served as Director of Infrastructure at Parsons Dubai, where he led the Private Sector Developer Market. He managed a portfolio of over 150 design and supervision projects, and led a project management team of 25, overseeing the delivery of numerous major projects in Dubai for prominent developers such as Emaar, Nakheel, Dubai Holding, Aldar, MAF, and Arada.

Gordon holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Ulster, UK, as well as a Diploma in Management from the Dublin Business School in Ireland.

Ashraf Elgarf

General Manager - Egypt

Ashraf joined SSH in 2023 as General Manager, Egypt. He is a professional architect with over 30 years of experience in real estate development, project and construction management, as well as facility and property management in the engineering industry. His extensive experience includes active participation in various governmental and high-profile private developments across the GCC, MENA region, North Africa, Europe and Central Asia.

In his role as General Manager, Ashraf ensures regulatory compliance with local laws and regulations in Egypt. He focuses on financial management, including budgeting, forecasting and financial reporting, as well as the implementation of SSH goals strategies.

Prior to joining SSH, Ashraf was the CEO of Projacs International. Under his leadership, the company was commissioned and delivered several mega urban development projects, infrastructure, and rail and metro developments.

Ashraf holds an MBA degree in Management from the American University of London, a High Diploma in Architecture from Cairo University, and a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Architecture from Cairo University.

Khaled Inaim

Resident Director, KSA

Khaled Inaim is currently serving as the Resident Director at SSH, having joined the company in 2017 as the General Manager in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. With a decade of prior experience in a design consultancy firm in Riyadh, Khaled has played a pivotal role in business development and contract management within Saudi Arabia and related sectors.

His expertise lies in recognising and capitalising on critical business opportunities, nurturing client relationships, formulating key proposals and contract strategies, and overseeing the successful completion of bids. Khaled's profound understanding of the Saudi market has been instrumental in positioning SSH as a preferred partner, aligning with clients to realise their ambitious programmes, and contributing significantly to the realisation of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030.

Michael Byron

Managing Director - UAE

Michael is an Architect who has more than 25 years' experience working on projects in Europe and the Middle East. Since his arrival in UAE 2010, Michael has applied his extensive experience in the delivery of major projects in Europe to the Middle East environment.

Throughout his career, as a talented organiser and team-builder, he has continually applied his management skills to the wider business, leading to him gradually taking senior management roles in the businesses he has joined and significantly contributed to business growth.

Michael founded SSH's Dubai office in 2015 and is responsible for overseeing all aspects of business development, client management, is responsible in bidding, negotiation and management of all contracts. Aided by his fluency in German and English, and his profound understanding of the construction market in the Gulf region, he provides a key interface with our Middle Eastern clients, who can draw on this considerable experience.

Michael graduated from Dublin's University College with a Bachelor of Architecture Degree and is a member in Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland (RIAI).

Selma Skalli

General Manager - Morocco

Selma Skalli joined SSH in 2025 as General Manager of SSH Morocco, leading the firm’s establishment and growth across Morocco and Africa. She is responsible for positioning SSH Morocco as a trusted multidisciplinary consultancy and partner of choice, supporting institutional and private clients in delivering complex hospitality, real estate, and mixed-use developments.

With over 17 years’ experience spanning hospitality, real estate development, and asset management, Selma has led major urban and hospitality projects across France, Morocco, and Sub-Saharan Africa. Prior to joining SSH, she served as Chief Development & Operating Officer at Magespro Africa and held senior roles within OCP Group, Alliances Développement Immobilier, JLL Hotels, and Accor.

Selma holds a Master’s degree in Operational and Financial Performance Management, specialising in Hospitality and Real Estate, from ESCP Business School in Paris, and a Master’s degree in Finance from the University of Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne. She also holds an Executive Certificate in Women in Leadership from Al Akhawayn University.

Shane Lahiff

Architecture Director

Shane Lahiff is the Architecture Director for Design. With 15 years of diverse project experience, Shane has led design projects across the GCC, the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Shane joined SSH in 2016 and has had a key role in expanding the company’s design portfolio across the region, specialising in large-scale, mixed-use, master planning and hospitality projects. He has collaborated with leading international brands, delivering award-winning hotel projects in Oman, KSA and Bahrain.

Shane is a graduate of Dublin School of Architecture and holds a professional diploma in architecture from University College Dublin.

Randal Kliskey

Operations Director, KSA

Randal joined SSH in 2023 with a responsibility to lead the growth of the business in KSA, embedding robust processes and controls to underpin consistent, high delivery standards for our clients. He has over 40 years’ industry experience, having worked almost 15 years for an international contractor and 26 years in consultancy with the Atkins organisation. His geographical experience spans across the UK, Europe, Africa, New Zealand, and the Middle East.

Before joining SSH, Randal was, for 18 years, Atkins’ Director for Site Operations in the Middle East, responsible for the development of the business from small beginnings to a team in excess of a thousand staff. Initially based in Dubai, Randal relocated to KSA in 2020 to successfully provide the necessary focus on business growth opportunities and to institute the necessary systems to enable consistent service delivery. Prior to this role, he worked as Project Manager and Director across a range of projects in the UK, Europe, and the Middle East, including a period as Fit-Out Construction Manager on Dubai’s Burj Al Arab.

Randal brings to SSH a track record of strong team leadership, fostering loyalty to the business by supporting staff development and providing clarity of roles, with a goal to ensure premium service delivery to clients.

Randal holds a B.Sc. Honours degree in Building Technology from the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST) in England. He is a chartered member of the UK’s Chartered Institute of Building.

Adam Dillon

Site Operations Director

Adam joined SSH in 2014 as a Senior Resident Engineer with more than 15 years' experience within the consulting, contracting and government sector. Currently a key member of SSH’s Oman Site Operations department, he manages a team of 28 multidisciplinary engineers and inspectors to deliver Package 2 of the Oman Exhibition and Convention Centre. Previously, he was Resident Engineer for WS Atkins on The Wave Muscat.

Adam is an accomplished Project Manager with extensive experience working on residential and commercial projects in London, Libya and Morocco in his role as Senior Electrical Engineer for WSP, London. Prior to this, he spent four years with design and build contractor Amec (now Spie Matthew Hall), initially as Senior Electrical Engineer and then as Electrical Production Leader for the Heathrow Terminal 5A development. Adam has design, construction and multidisciplinary project co-ordination and management experience for residential, commercial, healthcare, military, education, public and sports lighting, and has been involved in engineering assignments in Australia, Bahrain, Libya, Morocco, Oman, UAE and the UK.

Adam secured a Master’s Degree in Building Services Engineer Management from the Brunel University in the UK. He is a member of the Institute of Engineering Technologists (MIET) and Project Management Institute (PMI), USA.

David Ross

Structures Technical Director

David joined SSH in 2019 as the Discipline Lead for Structures and is now the Structures Technical Director. With more than 30 years of experience, which he gained while working throughout the Middle East and UK, David is committed to design excellence and the delivery of projects on time and within budget. He has worked closely and successfully with several prestigious architectural and engineering companies to produce landmark building design projects.

David is a passionate designer who successfully collaborates with teams, mentors young engineers, and understands the ethos of building design. He has a well-established reputation for developing successful relationships with clients and for realising each design from concept to construction completion. He is strongly committed to the improvement of quality and efficiency in design teams.

Abbas H. Mayahi

Construction Supervision Director

Abbas joined SSH as a Structural Engineer and was part of the team responsible for designing several iconic buildings. He then expanded his experience to the USA and Canada, where he worked on a broad range of projects.

Abbas re-joined SSH in 2001 and has since held various positions, including Project Manager, Client Liaison, Deputy Head of Business Development, and Senior Resident Engineer. In these roles, he has effectively led numerous commercial, industrial, and military projects, notably overseeing the design and supervision phases. Abbas currently holds the position of Construction Supervision Director, bringing a wealth of local knowledge and experience to the business.

He earned his Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering from Louisiana Tech University in the United States. Abbas is a member of the Kuwait Society of Engineers and the Canadian Society for Civil Engineering and is affiliated with the American Society of Civil Engineers, Louisiana Chapter. He was awarded the title of Consultant Engineer by the Kuwait Society of Engineers on the recommendation of the Engineers Chartering Council.

Yashin Maharaj

MEP Technical Director

Yashin joined SSH in 2017 as an Associate Director, and currently holds the position of MEP Technical Director covering Oman, Bahrain and KSA.

As a Chartered Electrical Engineer with more than 22 years of experience in the GCC, Africa, Europe, and the UK. Yashin is well versed with the challenges facing the Built Environment.

Over the past 10 years while working in the GCC, Yashin has been actively involved in delivering several high-profile, complex, and iconic projects in the region. This includes projects like the Museum of the Future and the Dubai Creek Tower. Yashin’s involvement on these projects typically spans across the entire project lifecycle, from design concept through to the completion of construction.

Yashin is an ardent supporter of working creatively and collaboratively to challenge how buildings are designed. He places innovation, environmental responsibility, and customer satisfaction at the heart of the creative process and leads his team of engineers by example.

Abdelkader Al Saadi

Director of Architecture

AK joined SSH in 2024 as Architecture Director, overseeing the Architecture, Landscape, and Interior Design teams across the region. With over 21 years of experience in world-leading markets, AK is a visionary architect known for delivering innovative designs and building exceptional teams to execute complex projects.

His career began in the UK, where he worked on multi-million-pound public and private sector developments. AK then moved to the Far East, contributing to large-scale mixed-use and high-rise developments. Since transitioning to the Middle East in 2015, AK has been instrumental in designing hospitality, residential, and mixed-use projects across the GCC, Africa, and Asia. His ability to transform client visions into reality while assembling and leading high-performing teams has consistently defined his success.

At SSH, AK fosters strong client relationships and ensures seamless communication by leading presentations that clarify project goals and expectations. He reviews technical bids for alignment with project requirements and standards, and manages staff resourcing to ensure teams are effectively assigned to meet project demands.

AK holds a Part 3 RIBA qualification from the Macintosh School of Architecture in the UK and a Diploma in Architecture from ENAU, Tunisia.

Kobus Botes

Business Development Manager

Kobus joined SSH in 2017 as Principal Design Manager, acting as principal liaison between clients and the respective project design teams. He is currently the Business Development Manager for South and Sub-Saharan Africa, developing these new markets and ensuring successful project delivery within region.

Kobus has a proven track record for efficiently analysing, planning, and delivering a range of complex construction projects. He has the knowledge to apply excellent interpersonal and people development skills, with a key focus on building cross-cultural relationships and recruiting, thereby leading, and coaching highly effective cross-cultural teams to deliver projects to industry best practice.

Kobus has 26 years of experience working within the real estate and construction industries in East Africa, South Africa and the GCC.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Architecture from the University of the Orange Free State in South Africa and registered as a Professional Architect with the South African Council for the Architectural Profession (SACAP) in 2002.

Dimitris Tsingelidis

Business Development Director

Dimitris joined SSH in early 2019 as an MEP Discipline Lead and, later within the same year, he was promoted to Business Development Director leveraging a wide network of personal and company contacts, including royal private offices, tier one developers and governmental clients.

He is responsible for promoting SSH’s work and ethos, designing and implementing the company’s business development strategy, engaging with C-suite and senior management within key organisations, driving sustainable business growth, and delivering in-depth market analysis.

Dimitris is a Chartered Engineer and an Associate RICS with 23 years of experience in the UAE, UK and Greece in the fields of operational and commercial management, construction contract administration, MEP design, as well as strategic planning and business development. Projects he has been involved in include hospitality projects, mixed-use developments, super tall and high-rise buildings, healthcare facilities, Olympic sport facilities, industrial facilities and railway projects.

Having worked for various clients, consultancies and contractors, Dimitris offers a diverse skill set and in depth understanding of the industry at all levels.
Before joining SSH, Dimitris worked for various tier one organisations such as the private office of the ruler of Dubai HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashed Al Maktoum, Atkins (UK and UAE), as well as Terna SA – Greece’s leading general contracting company.

Dimitris holds a Bachelor Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Liverpool John Moores University in the UK, and a Master’s Degree in Building Services Engineering from Brunel University, UK.

Ahmed Essawi

Director of Regulatory and Business Development

Ahmed Essawi has over 21 years of experience in the field of design works for Multidiscipline of Master Planning and various building types. He joined SSH in 2013 as Statutory Authorities Manager and has been responsible for obtaining statutory approvals for all SSH’s projects in Kuwait.

He has been involved in many major projects such as KOC Marine Facilities Upgrading Project, Kuwait International Airport Package 2 - Admin & Fire Station Buildings, Al Shadadiya Industrial Zone Infrastructure, Hessah Al Mubarak District Masterplan, Kuwait University (Academic Support Facilities), PAHW Sabah Al Ahmad city S3 and Arzaq Masterplan.

In 2020, he was promoted to Senior Regulations Manager and recently in 2023 he was promoted to Head of Regulatory and Business Development.

His excellent client relations in private and public sectors as well as his planning skills make him a productive team leader with extensive experience in stakeholder management and clients’ projects pre-development. Through his business intelligence and strategy, Ahmed also ensures best project investment value for clients within their project plan, in coordination with relevant parties.

Ahmed holds a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in Architecture and Architectural Engineering (Town Planning) respectively from Cairo University, Egypt.

He is a certified Professional Engineer, a member of Kuwait Society of Engineers and an acting member in the Engineer Syndicate of Egypt.

Jamal Abdulla

Resident Director, Bahrain

Gordon Bowles

Infrastructure Director

Gordon holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Ulster, UK, as well as a Diploma in Management from the Dublin Business School in Ireland.

Shane Lahiff

Architecture Director

Shane Lahiff is the Architecture Director for Design. With 15 years of diverse project experience, Shane has led design projects across the GCC, the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Shane is a graduate of Dublin School of Architecture and holds a professional diploma in architecture from University College Dublin.

Adam Dillon

Site Operations Director

David Ross

Structures Technical Director

Yashin Maharaj

MEP Technical Director

Yashin joined SSH in 2017 as an Associate Director, and currently holds the position of MEP Technical Director covering Oman, Bahrain and KSA.

As a Chartered Electrical Engineer with more than 22 years of experience in the GCC, Africa, Europe, and the UK. Yashin is well versed with the challenges facing the Built Environment.

Gordon Bowles

Infrastructure Director

Gordon holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Ulster, UK, as well as a Diploma in Management from the Dublin Business School in Ireland.

Ashraf Elgarf

General Manager - Egypt

Shane Lahiff

Architecture Director

Shane Lahiff is the Architecture Director for Design. With 15 years of diverse project experience, Shane has led design projects across the GCC, the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Shane is a graduate of Dublin School of Architecture and holds a professional diploma in architecture from University College Dublin.

David Ross

Structures Technical Director

Yashin Maharaj

MEP Technical Director

Yashin joined SSH in 2017 as an Associate Director, and currently holds the position of MEP Technical Director covering Oman, Bahrain and KSA.

As a Chartered Electrical Engineer with more than 22 years of experience in the GCC, Africa, Europe, and the UK. Yashin is well versed with the challenges facing the Built Environment.

Gordon Bowles

Infrastructure Director

Gordon holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Ulster, UK, as well as a Diploma in Management from the Dublin Business School in Ireland.

Khaled Inaim

Resident Director, KSA

Shane Lahiff

Architecture Director

Shane Lahiff is the Architecture Director for Design. With 15 years of diverse project experience, Shane has led design projects across the GCC, the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Shane is a graduate of Dublin School of Architecture and holds a professional diploma in architecture from University College Dublin.

Randal Kliskey

Operations Director, KSA

Adam Dillon

Site Operations Director

David Ross

Structures Technical Director

Yashin Maharaj

MEP Technical Director

Yashin joined SSH in 2017 as an Associate Director, and currently holds the position of MEP Technical Director covering Oman, Bahrain and KSA.

As a Chartered Electrical Engineer with more than 22 years of experience in the GCC, Africa, Europe, and the UK. Yashin is well versed with the challenges facing the Built Environment.

Ali Hayat

Resident Director, Kuwait

Ali Johar Hayat is the Resident Director of SSH’s Kuwait office. He has joined the executive team to lead operations in Kuwait and drive strategic initiatives to enhance the business.

Gordon Bowles

Infrastructure Director

Gordon holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Ulster, UK, as well as a Diploma in Management from the Dublin Business School in Ireland.

Shane Lahiff

Architecture Director

Shane Lahiff is the Architecture Director for Design. With 15 years of diverse project experience, Shane has led design projects across the GCC, the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Shane is a graduate of Dublin School of Architecture and holds a professional diploma in architecture from University College Dublin.

Abbas H. Mayahi

Construction Supervision Director

Ahmed Essawi

Director of Regulatory and Business Development

In 2020, he was promoted to Senior Regulations Manager and recently in 2023 he was promoted to Head of Regulatory and Business Development.

Ahmed holds a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in Architecture and Architectural Engineering (Town Planning) respectively from Cairo University, Egypt.

He is a certified Professional Engineer, a member of Kuwait Society of Engineers and an acting member in the Engineer Syndicate of Egypt.

Danny Warde

Chief Strategy Officer

He has a DESS’ Degree in Architecture from the University of Balamand and he is a Chartered Professional Architect with the Lebanese Society of Engineers and Architects.

Gordon Bowles

Infrastructure Director

Gordon holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Ulster, UK, as well as a Diploma in Management from the Dublin Business School in Ireland.

Selma Skalli

General Manager - Morocco

Shane Lahiff

Architecture Director

Shane Lahiff is the Architecture Director for Design. With 15 years of diverse project experience, Shane has led design projects across the GCC, the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Shane is a graduate of Dublin School of Architecture and holds a professional diploma in architecture from University College Dublin.

Gordon Bowles

Infrastructure Director

Gordon holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Ulster, UK, as well as a Diploma in Management from the Dublin Business School in Ireland.

Shane Lahiff

Architecture Director

Shane Lahiff is the Architecture Director for Design. With 15 years of diverse project experience, Shane has led design projects across the GCC, the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Shane is a graduate of Dublin School of Architecture and holds a professional diploma in architecture from University College Dublin.

Adam Dillon

Site Operations Director

David Ross

Structures Technical Director

Yashin Maharaj

MEP Technical Director

Yashin joined SSH in 2017 as an Associate Director, and currently holds the position of MEP Technical Director covering Oman, Bahrain and KSA.

As a Chartered Electrical Engineer with more than 22 years of experience in the GCC, Africa, Europe, and the UK. Yashin is well versed with the challenges facing the Built Environment.

Gordon Bowles

Infrastructure Director

Gordon holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Ulster, UK, as well as a Diploma in Management from the Dublin Business School in Ireland.

Shane Lahiff

Architecture Director

Shane Lahiff is the Architecture Director for Design. With 15 years of diverse project experience, Shane has led design projects across the GCC, the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Shane is a graduate of Dublin School of Architecture and holds a professional diploma in architecture from University College Dublin.

Adam Dillon

Site Operations Director

Kobus Botes

Business Development Manager

Kobus has 26 years of experience working within the real estate and construction industries in East Africa, South Africa and the GCC.

Gordon Bowles

Infrastructure Director

Gordon holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Ulster, UK, as well as a Diploma in Management from the Dublin Business School in Ireland.

Michael Byron

Managing Director - UAE

Michael graduated from Dublin's University College with a Bachelor of Architecture Degree and is a member in Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland (RIAI).

Shane Lahiff

Architecture Director

Shane Lahiff is the Architecture Director for Design. With 15 years of diverse project experience, Shane has led design projects across the GCC, the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Shane is a graduate of Dublin School of Architecture and holds a professional diploma in architecture from University College Dublin.

Adam Dillon

Site Operations Director

David Ross

Structures Technical Director

Yashin Maharaj

MEP Technical Director

Yashin joined SSH in 2017 as an Associate Director, and currently holds the position of MEP Technical Director covering Oman, Bahrain and KSA.

As a Chartered Electrical Engineer with more than 22 years of experience in the GCC, Africa, Europe, and the UK. Yashin is well versed with the challenges facing the Built Environment.

Abdelkader Al Saadi

Director of Architecture

AK holds a Part 3 RIBA qualification from the Macintosh School of Architecture in the UK and a Diploma in Architecture from ENAU, Tunisia.

Dimitris Tsingelidis

Business Development Director

Dimitris holds a Bachelor Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Liverpool John Moores University in the UK, and a Master’s Degree in Building Services Engineering from Brunel University, UK.