Nasser Aboulela

Director of Architecture

  • Area of Expertise

    Nasser’s professional experience includes 30 years of property development in several countries including USA, Russia, Japan, and the Middle East. He led large and highly specialized teams in diverse and complex projects through the full development cycle. His projects portfolio includes master planning and development of mixed-use communities, entertainment, hospitality, and transportation facilities in collaboration with signature international designers. He has extensive knowledge of international standards of various trades in the design and construction industry.

  • Professional Experience

    After receiving his master’s degree in architecture in 1989, Nasser pursued a career in architectural design of domestic and international aviation facilities projects with Leo A Daly Co and HNTB Corp. He also worked for Jacobs Engineering/GSE, a Los Angeles JV, as an onsite construction manager on a B$15 capital improvement program for Los Angeles Uniform School District. This hands-on experience provided him with solid proficiency in building technologies.


    He joined Universal Studios Creative Group from 1996 to 2001 to manage the development of various attractions within theme parks in Florida, California, and Japan and re-joined Universal as part of the Universal Moscow development team. After the initial 5 years with Universal, he continued to pursue a career in real estate development with prominent developers in the Middle East and Russia.


    Over the last 15 years, Nasser held various senior roles on multi-billion-dollar prestigious projects involving the full development cycle from idea to delivery. He was a Development Director at Skolkovo Foundation, a $6B innovation Center in Moscow, and the VP of Planning and Development for 2,800-ha tourism development on the Egyptian Red Sea.


    Project’s Highlights


    ProjectDescription Completion Stage
    Downtown Jebel Ali, Dubai, UAE 200 ha mixed use Head of Design Zones 1 and 2
    Zagorodny Kvartal, Moscow, Russian Federations 112 ha mixed use Head of Design Phase 1 (7ha)
    Skolkovo Innovation Center, Moscow, Russian Federation 420 ha Commercial and Technology Start-up Phases 1 and 2
    Al-Wasl Development Riyadh, KSA 1,400 ha mixed use Head of Design Masterplanning, infrastructure design and site grading
    Dubai Festival City, Dubai, UAE 746 ha hospitality, mixed use Design Manager Completed
    Hulhule Lagoon Resort, Maldives 75 ha hospitality Head of Design Completed design
    Halong Star, Halong Bay, Vietnam 125 ha hospitality- Head of Design Completed design
    Sahl Hasheesh, Hurghada, Egypt 4,060 ha hospitality VP Planning & Development Phase 1
    Universal’s Islands of Adventure, Orlando, FL 415 ha Location-based Entertainment/Resort Attraction Manager Completed
    Universal Studios, Osaka, Japan 380 ha Lcoation-based Entertainment/Resort- Attraction Manager Completed
    Universal Studios Moscow, Russian Federation 14 ha Location-based Entertainment- Director of Architecture Completed design
    Universal Studios Hollywood Expansion, Los Angeles, CA 5 ha Location-based Entertainment- Design Manager Completed
    Honolulu International Airport, Hawaii International Terminal- Designer Completed
    Schonefeld Airport, Berlin, Germany International Terminal- Designer Completed
    Los Angeles Airport Airfield Information and Guidance System Upgrade Airfield upgrades- Design Manager Completed
    Dubai Festival City, Dubai, UAE 35 ha Mixed-use Development- Head of Design Completed
    STREE Development, Dubai, UAE JVT Residential Building Design Consultant Completed


  • Academic Qualification

    Nasser received a Bachelor of Architecture from University of Alexandria in 1980 and a Master of Architecture from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1989. Among the awards he received is the Best Master’s Thesis Award from the University of California. His academic research includes developing analytical tools to simulate heat transfer through opaque building elements which are provided to energy researchers nationwide till today. He has given several talks to professional and community groups in a variety of national and international conferences and workshops on building climatology and urban development trends.