Omar Al Marzooqi: Steering Sustainable Energy and Water Solutions

Omar Al Marzooqi stepped into the chief executive role at Mirfa Seawater Treatment & Supply Company L.L.C. in January 2024, bringing a résumé built on two decades of UAE‑based engineering and project leadership. A mechanical‑engineering graduate with an executive MBA, he blends technical rigour with commercial insight.

In Mirfa he oversees the desalination plants that supply water to Abu Dhabi’s industrial zones and residential districts. The remit covers plant operations, regulatory liaison and investor relations, all underpinned by the company’s carbon‑reduction ambitions.

Within his first year he launched a quarterly performance review that ties output metrics to sustainability targets, signalling a shift toward data‑driven stewardship.

From Large‑Scale Gas Projects to Water‑Centric Leadership

As Senior Vice President of Projects & Technical for ADNOC Group (2019‑2020), Al Marzooqi directed multimillion‑dollar gas‑processing facilities. Managing multidisciplinary teams, he translated complex engineering specifications into executable business plans.

Earlier, as Vice President of Engineering & Technical Support for ADNOC Gas Processing (2016‑2018), he married safety standards with operational efficiency, reinforcing ADNOC’s standing as a regional gas leader.

Scaling Innovation at AIQ

From January 2021 to December 2023 Al Marzooqi served as CEO of AIQ, steering the start‑up to an artificial‑intelligence unicorn valued at $1.4 billion. The rapid‑scale experience sharpened his grasp of investment dynamics and technology‑driven growth, lessons he now applies to capital‑intensive water projects.

Cross‑Functional Expertise Across the Value Chain

His career began in the ADNOC Gas Directorate, where as Senior Project Manager (2003‑2013) he coordinated civil, mechanical and pipeline work for the Habshan gas‑field development. That hands‑on role gave him an intimate view of upstream‑downstream interfaces.

Later, as Deputy Senior Vice President Projects for ADNOC Sour Gas (2014‑2016), he managed initiatives that mitigated sour‑gas hazards while maintaining production targets. The blend of technical depth and risk‑aware governance he honed there informs his current oversight of desalination portfolios.

Academic Foundations Supporting Strategic Decisions

Al Marzooqi earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Valparaiso University (1998‑2002) and an Executive Master of Business Administration from Zayed University (2011‑2013). The combination supplies a balanced perspective, allowing him to assess engineering options against financial realities.

A Deliberate Pivot Toward Water Sustainability

The move to Mirfa marks a strategic transition from hydrocarbon‑centric projects to water‑intensive infrastructure. His leadership aims to expand capacity to meet rising demand while exploring renewable‑energy integration within treatment processes.

His background in large‑scale gas projects equips him to navigate the capital‑intensive nature of seawater treatment, aligning financing structures with long‑term sustainability goals.

In partnership with regional research institutes, he has commissioned pilots of energy‑recovery technologies that could lower desalination costs and cut emissions.

Cultivating Talent and Governance

Beyond technical oversight, Al Marzooqi champions mentorship programmes that pair senior engineers with junior staff, building a pipeline of expertise essential for the sector’s future.

His board‑level communication skills, refined during senior roles at ADNOC, ensure that strategic decisions rest on clear risk assessments and transparent reporting.

Cross‑departmental forums he convenes bring engineering, finance and regulatory teams together, reinforcing a culture of shared responsibility.

Effective leadership in resource‑intensive sectors emerges when deep technical knowledge is coupled with decisive governance.

Recognition by The Arab CEOs

Omar Al Marzooqi’s journey from mechanical engineer to chief executive illustrates how expertise in large‑scale energy projects can be redirected toward vital water‑sector challenges. For The Arab CEOs readership, his blend of project‑driven insight and strategic vision offers a concrete example of diversifying impact within the Gulf’s resource landscape.

His career demonstrates that when engineering rigour meets strategic foresight, organisations can transition from traditional hydrocarbon focus to broader resource stewardship, supporting regional resilience and sustainable development.