I am a driven Senior Project Manager and Enterprise IT Leader with 15+ years of delivering ITSM programs, service delivery transformations, and complex IT projects across government, real estate, investment, hospitality, entertainment, and sport. I specialize in end-to-end project management, ITIL-aligned service management, CRM-driven implementations, and Agile/Waterfall delivery models, while leveraging cybersecurity and AI to drive innovation. I thrive in leading large cross-functional teams, managing multi-vendor environments, and aligning IT initiatives with strategic business objectives. I excel at ITSM process design (Incident, Change, Problem, Request), SLA/KPI frameworks, service catalogs, workflow automation, and executive-level service reporting. I am passionate about digital transformation, cloud adoption, and delivering measurable ROI through disciplined governance, risk management, and continuous improvement.

Firas Elmakki

I am a driven Senior Project Manager and Enterprise IT Leader with 15+ years of delivering ITSM programs, service delivery transformations, and complex IT projects across government, real estate, investment, hospitality, entertainment, and sport. I specialize in end-to-end project management, ITIL-aligned service management, CRM-driven implementations, and Agile/Waterfall delivery models, while leveraging cybersecurity and AI to drive innovation. I thrive in leading large cross-functional teams, managing multi-vendor environments, and aligning IT initiatives with strategic business objectives. I excel at ITSM process design (Incident, Change, Problem, Request), SLA/KPI frameworks, service catalogs, workflow automation, and executive-level service reporting. I am passionate about digital transformation, cloud adoption, and delivering measurable ROI through disciplined governance, risk management, and continuous improvement.

Available to hire

I am a driven Senior Project Manager and Enterprise IT Leader with 15+ years of delivering ITSM programs, service delivery transformations, and complex IT projects across government, real estate, investment, hospitality, entertainment, and sport. I specialize in end-to-end project management, ITIL-aligned service management, CRM-driven implementations, and Agile/Waterfall delivery models, while leveraging cybersecurity and AI to drive innovation. I thrive in leading large cross-functional teams, managing multi-vendor environments, and aligning IT initiatives with strategic business objectives.

I excel at ITSM process design (Incident, Change, Problem, Request), SLA/KPI frameworks, service catalogs, workflow automation, and executive-level service reporting. I am passionate about digital transformation, cloud adoption, and delivering measurable ROI through disciplined governance, risk management, and continuous improvement.

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Experience Level

Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
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Language

Arabic
Fluent
English
Fluent

Work Experience

Senior Project Manager at Aqary Holding
April 1, 2025 - Present
Overseeing end-to-end delivery of digital development projects across Aqary's group of companies, leading technology initiatives that drive digital transformation and enhance customer experience. Responsible for full-cycle development of websites, mobile apps (iOS & Android), and custom dashboards; implementing agile methodologies, tracking KPIs, managing budgets, and ensuring compliance and quality. Defined project scope, technical requirements, timelines, and deliverables in alignment with business strategies and market needs. Managed cross-functional teams (30+ resources) including designers, analysts, developers, QA, AI/ML specialists, and DevOps engineers; oversaw product deployment and maintenance across digital platforms with emphasis on performance, scalability, and security. Implemented ITSM best practices to standardize service delivery and improve cross-department collaboration, reducing service resolution time.
Freelance IT Specialist at Remote or project based
September 1, 2021 - April 1, 2025
IT freelance consultant providing expert advice and technical solutions for IT and business needs across systems integration, cybersecurity, cloud computing, SDLC, data analysis, and infrastructure. Engagements included IT advisory, end-to-end project management, software development collaborations (SDLC, Agile, DevOps, CI/CD), and cybersecurity risk assessments.
Group IT Manager at Alforsan Holding
September 1, 2020 - January 31, 2021
Led IT operations, strategy, governance, procurement, and multiple concurrent projects across hospitality, real estate, entertainment, and sports divisions. Improved help desk collaboration and reduced response times; managed a 300+ user IT infrastructure project reducing downtime and improving performance. Regenerated cloud contracts to save costs, enhanced business continuity with a DR site, and deployed CRM and website solutions to increase customer interaction and satisfaction. Implemented ITSM processes and ITIL-aligned SLAs/KPIs, achieving 100% external audit compliance.
IT Manager at UAE Wrestling and Judo Federation
February 1, 2017 - February 29, 2020
Managed IT operations, infrastructure, security, and system performance for a government sport federation. Improved uptime to 99.98% through proactive monitoring, provided technical support, and reduced disaster recovery time by implementing cloud-based failover. Led IT service delivery and governance, ensuring alignment with organizational goals.
IT Department Deputy Head at Camel Race Management / MOPA
June 1, 2015 - October 31, 2016
Assisted in managing day-to-day IT operations and strategic planning; led IT governance, vendor management, and multi-project delivery. Implemented ITSM workflows, established service reporting dashboards, and improved service levels and customer satisfaction.
IT Project Manager at Camel Race Management / MOPA
April 1, 2013 - June 30, 2015
Led IT projects including data center initiatives, enterprise system deployments, and mobile applications; managed budgets, resources, and schedules to automate manual processes and improve operational efficiency.
Network Engineer at Camel Race Management / MOPA
April 1, 2012 - April 30, 2013
Designed and maintained network architecture, traffic flows, and security; delivered faster software deployment, reduced hardware costs through virtualization, and supported IT governance and service standards.
IT Intern at InterContinental Hotel and Resort IHG
June 1, 2008 - July 31, 2008
Provided first-level end-user support, monitored systems, assisted in hardware/software installation and configuration, and supported IT operations within a hospitality environment.
Network Engineer at Al Ain FC
February 1, 2009 - March 31, 2012
Installed and maintained network infrastructure for a high-scale football club, configured network hardware, performed troubleshooting, firmware updates, and performance monitoring.
Freelance IT Consultant at Remote / Project Based
September 1, 2021 - April 1, 2025
Advised clients on IT strategy, cybersecurity, systems integration, and SDLC/DevOps practices. Managed end-to-end projects, prepared documentation, and supported CI/CD adoption.
Freelance IT Consultant at Remote or project based
September 1, 2021 - April 1, 2025
Provided IT advisory and hands-on support on systems integration, cybersecurity, cloud computing, SDLC, data analysis, and infrastructure. Managed end-to-end projects, produced detailed documentation, and delivered solutions aligned with client objectives.
Freelance IT Consultant at Remote / Project-based engagements
September 1, 2021 - April 1, 2025
Provide expert IT advisory, systems integration, cybersecurity, cloud computing, SDLC, data analysis, and infrastructure support for clients. Manage end-to-end projects including documentation and deployment of technology; collaborate on SDLC, DevOps practices, and CI/CD.
IT Intern at InterContinental Hotel & Resort IHG
June 1, 2008 - July 1, 2008
Provided first-level IT support, monitored systems, assisted in hardware/software installation and configuration.

Education

Bachelor of Science, Information Systems Technology at Abu Dhabi University
January 11, 2030 - December 9, 2025
Mini MBA Certificate at PwC Academy
May 1, 2016 - December 9, 2025
Bachelor of Science, Information Systems Technology at Abu Dhabi University
January 11, 2030 - February 17, 2026
Bachelor of Science, Information Systems Technology at Abu Dhabi University
January 11, 2030 - February 17, 2026
Bachelor of Science in Information Systems Technology at Abu Dhabi University
January 11, 2030 - February 17, 2026

Qualifications

MCTS Microsoft Project 2010, Managing Projects
June 1, 2015 - December 9, 2025
MCTS Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist, Windows 7
April 1, 2015 - December 9, 2025
Microsoft Certified Professional MCP
April 1, 2015 - December 9, 2025
Microsoft Specialist
January 1, 2015 - December 9, 2025
Mini MBA Certificate
May 1, 2016 - February 17, 2026
MCTS Microsoft Project 2010, Managing Projects
June 1, 2015 - February 17, 2026
MCTS Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist, Windows 7
April 1, 2015 - February 17, 2026
Microsoft Certified Professional MCP
April 1, 2015 - February 17, 2026
Microsoft Specialist
January 1, 2015 - February 17, 2026
Mini MBA Certificate
May 1, 2016 - February 17, 2026
MCTS Microsoft Project 2010, Managing Projects
June 1, 2015 - February 17, 2026
MCTS Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist, Windows 7
April 1, 2015 - February 17, 2026
Microsoft Certified Professional MCP
April 1, 2015 - February 17, 2026
Microsoft Specialist
January 1, 2015 - February 17, 2026
Mini MBA Certificate
May 1, 2016 - February 17, 2026
MCTS Microsoft Project 2010
June 1, 2015 - February 17, 2026
MCTS Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist, Windows 7
April 1, 2015 - February 17, 2026
Microsoft Certified Professional MCP
April 1, 2015 - February 17, 2026
Microsoft Specialist
January 1, 2015 - February 17, 2026

Industry Experience

Software & Internet, Government, Professional Services, Education, Real Estate & Construction, Media & Entertainment, Travel & Hospitality