SoubhiAbdulkarim

Profile

Two companies, one habit: finishing the job.

Soubhi Abdulkarim runs a systems integrator and a technology consultancy out of Muscat. Between them they design, specify and install the technology that runs buildings — audiovisual, security, networks, control — for governments, institutions and private clients across the Gulf and Africa.

The discipline behind that work is the one he learned validating desktop platforms at Intel in Oregon: define it properly, test it honestly, ship it on the date you promised. Colleagues describe him as the person who stays with a problem until the last defect is closed. Most of what his teams build is invisible when it works, which is exactly the point.

Over thirty-five years he has moved from silicon to skylines — from power management architecture on Intel desktop boards, to the networks and clinical systems behind Qatar's ASPIRE Academy and Sport City, to the boardrooms of Abraaj Capital and Hydra Trading, and now to his own firms in Oman.

• 2011 — Current

  Founder and Chief Executive Officer

  Integrated Smart Technologies · Muscat, Oman

  An Omani systems integrator and product developer specialising in audiovisual, physical security, smart buildings and green technology. Simple, effective solutions for organisations of any size, across many verticals.

• 2010 — Current

  Founder and Chairman

  Al-Eajaz for Creative Projects · Muscat, Oman

  Consultancy in design and project management for information and communications technology, audiovisual and security systems. Clients include governments, NGOs and private companies; today it is regarded as Oman's leading ICT and ELV consultant.

• 2008 — 2010

  Chief Operating Officer

  Hydra Trading · Abu Dhabi, UAE

  Ran operations for a Royal Group company and one of the largest technology investment firms in the Middle East and North Africa: corporate structuring, R&D and strategic planning, with a focus on sourcing building materials, renewable energy technologies and engineering practices for sustainable development.

• 2006 — 2008

  Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer

  Abraaj Capital · Dubai, UAE

  Defined and implemented the ICT strategy for one of the region's largest investment firms, and evaluated technology strategy for portfolio companies before and after acquisition.

• 2003 — 2006

  IT Director

  ASPIRE Academy & Sport City · Doha, Qatar

  Chief architect of the technology behind two landmark Qatari institutions, reporting to the Director General.

  • ASPIRE, Academy for Sports Excellence — wired and wireless networks, IP telephony, access control, BMS, CCTV, multimedia, e-learning, school management, video conferencing and virtual classrooms.
  • Qatar Orthopedic and Sports Medical Hospital — network and IP telephony, BMS, CCTV, multimedia, plus the clinical stack: HIS, EPR, PACS and RIS.
• 1995 — 2003

  Systems Architect and Engineering Manager

  Intel Corporation · Oregon, USA

  Eight years across Intel's Desktop Architectural Lab and OEM Products and Services Division, through the Pentium II, Pentium 4 and Intel 815 generations.

  • 2001–2002 · Senior Systems Architect — primary owner of Instantly Available PC (IAPC) technology, architecting power management for future Intel products.
  • 1999–2001 — led the IAPC effort within OPSD.
  • 1998–1999 — managed a team of senior engineers and technicians enabling DVD on the PC.
  • 1997–1998 — QA and engineering manager, the Boston project.
  • 1995–1997 — team leader, software driver QA engineering.
• 1990 — 1995

  Chief Executive Officer

  IBE Computers · Oregon, USA

  A primary supplier of computer systems and networking solutions, and one of the pioneering PC and office-automation companies in the state of Oregon.