As a licentiate town planner with extensive experience in urban design and master planning my background covers large master plans with urban design interventions, land use planning, development codes, and policies interpretation to contribute to the development of area specific plans and local development frameworks.
With over 15 years of working experience I have designed and managed number of challenging and award winning projects including regional plans, sustainable communities, large mixed use developments, town centers regeneration projects, land use plans and policies, design regulations and planning codes, and tourism driven developments across the Middle East, and Europe.
KEO International Consultants, Senior Project Manager- Urban Planner
Assess the effectiveness of the national planning framework in delivering sustainable urban form in Abu Dhabi Emirate; and examine to what extent the existing institutional arrangements and the current administrative bodies can form the basis of a system of strategic planning. Other responsibilities include: work closely with and assist Abu Dhabi Municipality in developing & maintaining a planning process; provide advice on urban planning matters as required; assist in implementing AD Development Code as well as relevant legislative and development control related guidelines; recommend modifications to current structures for managing development evaluation and control; and develop strategies for re-zoning of already developed areas.
Halcrow, Senior Projects Manager- Urban Planner
managing and designing large scale master plans; Supporting the business development process by identifying new opportunities, marketing current clients for repeat business; assisting with proposals, budgets and schedules; leading a design team of 5 professionals; liaising with the client and authorities; And managing different sub consultants specialized in Sustainable design, LEED accreditation, Landscape, Place making, Structure and building services, Social and economic survey, Marine Engineering, Environmental Impact Assessment, Traffic Impact Study, and architectural consultant.
RTKL Associates Inc., Associate Urban Designer
Responsible for managing projects through all aspects of the assignment; present and discuss planning, design and delivery options and solutions with team and client.
Duties include evaluating, selecting, and applying techniques, procedures, and criteria for completion of the project; And advise and mentor staff, Support the mission of the firm by promoting extraordinary care in pursuit of customer service and quality of design and documentation.
Oxford Brookes University, PhD, Urban Design and Planning
Research title: The Delivery of more sustainable urban form in Abu Dhabi: An evaluation framework. Through the research Rafik is pursuing exploratory concept of evolutionary development framework toward sustainable communities which challenge the notion of design as a progressive expression of schematic intentions and argue for a conception of design as a stepwise, non-linear evolution in response to a series of contextual urban factors.
University College London (UCL), Masters, International Planning
Though the program I have gained comprehensive understanding of urban planning strategies for projects ranging from downtown urban infill developments to regional and city plans, the appropriate methods to tackle a variety of planning and design issues, ability to review the policy design problems, and have developed a sensitive appreciation of the local contexts, which determine future potentials and policies in the perspective of the new globalized world and contemporary urban movements.
Thesis: Land use regulatory tools in Chicago Metropolitan Areas: Planning officials’ perceptions to control urban sprawl.
