Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Giacomo is a Director/Senior Project Manager with over 30 years of experience in the Construction industry, including the last 14 years in the Middle East. He is a Civil Engineer with an M.Sc. and can manage a project from inception through handover to the Client. He has the ability to manage complex projects. Giacomo’s ability to follow the project from the design stage helps avoid delays and errors during construction. He is accustomed to working closely with other professionals and, above all, to working under pressure to achieve the objective on time. He approaches new tasks with confidence and does not give up in the face of difficulties.
• Served as Acting Project Director. • Directed interface oversight for THE LINE Landscapes across a 170+ km corridor, aligning infrastructure, mobility, utilities, and environmental systems to support constructability and execution. • Directed infrastructure works and logistics development for the KAUST Coral Nursery research center through delivery readiness, commissioning, and handover planning, reducing the timeline by 15%. • Delivered the digital twin of the NEOM Sub-Region (9,600 km²) to improve planning, interface control, asset data quality, and future operations readiness; implemented a procurement strategy that reduced the forecast budget by 40% (vs initial estimate). • Acted as the single point of contact for interfaces and early packaging inputs across workstreams, supporting procurement planning, Lean Construction look-ahead planning, and efficient site execution. • Established project governance and PMO reporting (dashboards, KPIs, action trackers) to support executive-level decisions, programme control, and Agile-style reporting cycles. • Led coordination with NEOM departments for soil investigations, geotechnical studies, aerial imaging, site surveys, and water resource assessments to de-risk design and construction before award and mobilization. • Coordinated multi-discipline design integration across NEOM sectors, ensuring alignment with master plan intent, constructability, authority requirements, and long-term sustainability. • Maintained risk registers and mitigation plans, identified schedule/cost threats early, managed change control, and drove corrective actions with key stakeholders.
• Delivered infrastructure and public realm works (roads, utilities, and facilities) to support operations and stakeholder requirements at Abu Dhabi Presidential Palace (Qasr Al Watan) – Delivered on budget and on time. • Directed building enhancements and complex fit-out works (Leisure & Entertainment, Residential, F&B, Commercial), driving QA/QC, commissioning, snagging, and handover readiness. • Led master planning, infrastructure (600 M SAR), and mixed-use development programs for KAFD – KSA. • Acted as the single point of contact representing KAFD in front of PIF, MOT, AMANA, RCRC, and other stakeholders for the revised mobility and parking strategy. • Directed early-stage development strategy and activation planning for a 3,500-key luxury mega-development (Al Farshah Island), including packaging strategy and consultant coordination (Budget 12 B SAR). • Directed Infrastructure works (design, package award, construction) of Cytiland Mall – Dubai) • Directed a Leisure and Entertainment facility called ‘Orbi’ in Mirdif City Center for MAF LE (5,000 m²). • Established Waterfall / stage-gate program governance and PMO reporting systems, budgets, and baseline schedules; implemented risk, change control (variations/change orders), and issue management across multiple project packages. • Developed procurement strategies and contractor packaging plans; supported tendering, bid evaluations, negotiations, contract award recommendations, and FIDIC-based contract administration. • Represented the client across technical and commercial matters, managing consultants, designers, contractors, and specialist suppliers, driving design reviews/approvals, controlling RFIs, technical submittals/shop drawings, and design changes to protect time, cost, and quality.
Project: La Ville Hotel - City Walk - Jumeirah - Dubai Client: Meraas Holding LLC - Dubai Consultant: Woods Bagot - Dubai Contractor Al Futtaim Carillion - Dubai FF&E Contractor: DEPA - Dubai • Delivered the 230-key Laville Marriott Hotel in Dubai from design through procurement, construction, testing/commissioning, and handover (290 M USD). • Directed contractor and specialist supplier coordination, packaging, procurement, and site supervision to meet programme and quality standards. • Controlled budget and schedule resolved technical issues and RFIs, and drove QA/QC, snagging, and closeout to achieve timely handover. • Supported tendering and contract award processes, including scope definition, commercial clarifications, and contractor negotiations.
Project: 5 star Hotel in Lagos - Nigeria Client: Robert Dyson & Diket Ltd – Lagos Nigeria Consultant: GLH and Associates – Johannesburg Contractor: Renaissance - Lagos • Led the delivery of 316-key 5-star Starwood Hotel and serviced apartments, leading end-to-end delivery from design development through construction. • Directed architectural, structural, and MEP design management, ensuring coordination, constructability, and quality compliance. • Led QS, cost planning, procurement, RFIs, authority approvals, FF&E coordination, and contractor performance management to meet commercial objectives. • Implemented project governance routines (weekly reporting, risk register, change control), improving schedule predictability and decision turnaround.
Project: 5-star hotel in the city of Turkmenbashi – Turkmenistan Client: Government of Turkmenistan Consultant: Belent – Ashgabat - Turkmenistan Operator: Government of Turkmenistan • Served as Acting Project Director. • Delivered the 270-key Ahal Hotel, meeting strict government and operator requirements from design through handover (115 M USD). • Promoted from Site Engineer to Senior Project Manager within six months based on delivery performance and stakeholder confidence. • Led developer-side design approvals, procurement strategy, tendering inputs, and contractor execution management (quality, cost, programme, HSE).