Redefining Underground
- October 2026
Infrastructure Without Disruption
Co-Located With
Event Partner
Association Partners
EVENT OVERVIEW
The 4th International Trenchless and Tunnelling Exhibition & Conference MENA – ITTEC MENA returns to Dubai as the region’s leading platform dedicated to advancing trenchless and underground construction technologies across the Middle East and North Africa.
Building on the strong success of previous editions, the forum has become the premier meeting point for government authorities, utility owners, metro and transport developers, oil and gas operators, consultants, contractors, and global technology providers driving no-dig innovation in the region.
As the region accelerates giga-projects, smart cities, metro expansions, and critical pipeline networks, the demand for sustainable, low-disruption underground solutions continues to grow. Hosted in Dubai, a hub for engineering excellence and infrastructure investment, the 4th edition will spotlight breakthrough technologies that enhance efficiency, safety, cost optimization, and climate-resilient infrastructure delivery while addressing key challenges in urban tunnelling, aging utilities, regulatory frameworks, and digital integration.
KEY OBJECTIVES OF THE FORUM
Drive
Strategic Implementation of No-Dig Solutions
Advance
Technical Excellence in Underground Engineering
Enable
Sustainable and Low-Carbon Infrastructure Delivery
Integrate
Develop
Showcase
Cutting-Edge Innovations
Position
EVENT IN NUMBERS
Attendees
Decision Makers
Countries Represented
Local and International Speakers
Sponsors and Exhibitors
Media
MARKET DRIVERS
ONGOING PROJECTS
Speakers
Hossam Samir Ibrahim
Senior Urban & Regional Planning Advisor - Head of Municipality Master Planning Unit
Ministry of Municipality - Qatar
Mohamed Ghazy
Project Director of Storm Water Study and Design Projects
Ministry of Municipality and Housing
Eng. Abdullah Qaderi
Drainage Projects Execution Engineer
Dubai Municipality
Dr. Tamer AL Hafez
Tunnels Projects Construction Specialist
Dubai Municipality
Glynne Pritchard
Program Director
WSP, Saudi Arabia
Bukola Esho
Associate Director - Ground Engineering
WSP
Faisal Aljihayem
Senior Planning Engineer
Kuwait Oil Company, Kuwait
James H. Morris
HDD Section Head
Arabian Pipeline & Services Co. Ltd. (ANABEEB), Saudi Arabia
Jimmy Jreige
Senior Infrastructure Project Manager
Consol Arabia GCC
Prof. Abdelkareem Alzo’ubi
Professor of Civil Engineering
Abu Dhabi University, UAE
Rita Sousa
Associate Professor of Civil Engineering
New York University in Abu Dhabi, UAE
Jafarali Parol
Scientist
Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research
Darshan Chhatbar
Geotechnical Engineer
SYSTRA
Ahmed Alhafez
Construction Director
Parsons
Shishir Patle
Tunneling and Geotechnical Engineer
SYSTRA
Muhammad J. Qayyum
Director of Utilities
King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC)
Finlay Leibrick
Practice Director Ground Engineering, Middle East and Africa
Aecom
Hussein Zayed
Business Development Manager
TCC (Tamimi)
Agenda
13:30 - 14:30
Registration and Refreshments
14:30 - 14:35
Welcome Remarks by Great Minds Events Management
14:35 – 14:45
Opening Remarks by Conference Chairperson
Speaker:
- Prof. Abdelkareem Alzo’ubi, Professor of Civil Engineering, Abu Dhabi University
- Jimmy Jreige, Senior Infrastructure Project Manager, Consol Arabia GCC
14:45 – 15:25
Opening Panel Discussion: The Strategic Role of Trenchless Technologies in Advancing Infrastructure Goals Across MENA
- Enabling utility expansion with minimal disruption in urban environments
- Supporting smart city rollouts through efficient digital infrastructure deployment
- Advancing sustainability and resilience in line with regional development goals
Moderator:
- Prof. Abdelkareem Alzo’ubi, Professor of Civil Engineering, Abu Dhabi University
Panelists:
- Mohamed Ghazy, Project Director of Storm Water Study and Design Projects, Ministry of Municipality and Housing
- Glynne Pritchard, Program Director, WSP
- Jimmy Jreige, Senior Infrastructure Project Manager, Consol Arabia GCC
15:25-15:45
Presentation: Micro tunneling Challenges Beneath Sensitive Infrastructure
- Mitigating Ground Settlement Risks to protect adjacent utilities and structures.
- Ensuring Precision in Alignment when tunneling under roads, railways, and foundations.
- Managing Groundwater and Soil Conditions to avoid instability and construction delay
Moderator:
- Keh Jian Shou,Chairman, International Society for Trenchless Technology (ISTT),Taiwan
Speaker:
- Eng. Abdullah Qaderi, Drainage Projects Execution Engineer,Dubai Municipality
- Dr. Tamer AL Hafez, Tunnels Projects Construction Specialist, Dubai Municipality
15:45-16:00
Presentation- Scaling Global Ambition: Showcasing Mega Infrastructure Excellence and Landmark Project Success
- Turning bold national goals into tangible world-class developments
- Harnessing technology and collaboration to deliver complex projects efficiently
- Ensuring every project drives long-term economic growth and community value
Moderator:
- Keh Jian Shou,Chairman, International Society for Trenchless Technology (ISTT),Taiwan
Speaker:
- Hussein Zayed, Business Development Manager, TCC (Tamimi)
16:00-16:45
Exhibition Tour and Networking Coffee Break
16:45-17:05
Presentation: Strengthening Critical Infrastructure in the Energy Sector with Trenchless Engineering
- Hardening energy corridors by installing and rehabilitating pipelines and conduits via HDD and microtunneling to keep operations running under roads, rails, and waterways
- Reducing risk and lifecycle cost with condition assessment and trenchless rehab—CCTV, laser profiling, CIPP, sliplining, spiral-wound liners, and corrosion protection
- Accelerating delivery and compliance through minimal-disruption construction, stronger HSE performance, and GIS-driven planning that safeguards communities
Speaker:
- Muhammad J. Qayyum, Director of Utilities, King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC)
17:05-17:25
Presentation: Strategic Urban Planning — Designing Out Disruption and Maintenance
- Embedding lifecycle design: multi-utility corridors, reserved ROW, modular components, trenchless-ready alignments
- Engineering resilient networks: durable materials, redundancy, blue-green systems, smart sensors for predictive maintenance
- Institutionalizing data governance: city digital twin, SUE, dig-once permitting, lifecycle-based procurement
Speaker:
- Faisal Aljihayem, Senior Planning Engineer, Kuwait Oil Company, Kuwait
17:25-17:45
Presentation: Overcoming HDD Project Challenges: A Contractor’s Perspective
- Tackling unpredictable soil, rock, and groundwater conditions
- Enhancing performance, reduce downtime, and manage costs effectively
- Minimizing surface impact and maintain full regulatory compliance
Speaker:
- James H. Morris,HDD Section Head, Arabian Pipeline & Services Co. Ltd. (ANABEEB), Saudi Arabia
17:45-17:50
Closing Remarks by Conference Chairperson
Speaker:
- Prof. Abdelkareem Alzo’ubi, Professor of Civil Engineering, Abu Dhabi University
17:50
Networking and Networking Coffee and End of Day One
13.30 - 14.30
Registration and Networking
14.30 – 14.35
Opening Remarks by Conference Chairperson
Speaker:
- Prof. Abdelkareem Alzo’ubi, Professor of Civil Engineering, Abu Dhabi University
14:35-15:15
Panel Discussion: Driving Efficiency and Safety in Urban Redevelopment with No-Dig Construction
- Delivering underground infrastructure upgrades with zero surface disruption
- Shorting project timelines while minimizing impact on city life
- Eliminating safety risks associated with open-trench construction in dense zones
Moderator:
- Prof Rita Sousa, Associate Professor of Civil Engineering, New York University in Abu Dhabi, UAE
Panelist:
- Mohamed Ghazy, Project Director of Storm Water Study and Design Projects, Ministry of Municipality and Housing
- Hossam Samir Ibrahim, Senior Urban & Regional Planning Advisor - Head of Municipality Master Planning Unit, Ministry of Municipality – Qatar
- Finlay Leibrick, Practice Director - Ground Engineering, Middle East and Africa, Aecom
15:15-15:35
Case Study- Urban Water Tunneling Project in Mumbai, using TBM
- Identifying typical challenges faced in water tunneling projects within dense urban environments
- Demonstrating how TBM methodologies provide effective solutions for complex ground and infrastructure conditions
- Showcasing lessons learned and best practices to optimize future tunneling projects in metropolitan cities
Speaker:
- Shishir Patle, Tunneling and Geotechnical Engineer, SYSTRA
15:35-15:55
Presentation: Harnessing Data-Driven Technologies for Smarter Infrastructure Monitoring
- Deploying advanced sensors, IoT, and digital twins to deliver real-time insights into infrastructure performance
- Analyzing big data and predictive models to detect vulnerabilities and prevent costly failures
- Enhancing decision-making by integrating AI-powered dashboards for proactive maintenance and resilience planning
Speaker:
- Jafarali Parol, Scientist, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research
15:55– 16:35
Exhibition Tour and Networking Coffee Break
16:35-16:55
Panel Discussion: Integrating Trenchless Design into Early-Stage Master Planning and BIM
- Embedding trenchless feasibility into master plans from the conceptual design stage
- Using BIM to visualize subsurface utilities and coordinate multi-utility corridors
- Preventing costly redesigns and conflicts by aligning trenchless strategies early in the planning process
Moderator:
- Bukola Esho, Associate Director - Ground Engineering, WSP
Panlist:
- Darshan Chhatbar, Geotechnical Engineer, SYSTRA
- Muhammad J. Qayyum, Director of Utilities, King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC)
- Jimmy Jreige, Senior Infrastructure Project Manager, Consol Arabia GCC
- Ahmed Alhafez, Construction Director, Parsons
16:55-17:15
Presentation: Bridging Numerical and Physical Modeling for Safer Trenchless Infrastructure in MENA
- Calibrating models with physical data through centrifuge tests, pilots, and lab experiments to refine TBM predictions
- Simulating TBM and trenchless processes pre-construction to anticipate stability, advance rates, and ground movement
- Leveraging stochastic modeling, machine learning, and digital monitoring to design with risk awareness and manage uncertainties
Speaker:
- Prof Rita Sousa, Associate Professor of Civil Engineering, New York University in Abu Dhabi, UAE
17:15-17:20
Closing Remarks by Conference Chairperson
Speaker:
- Prof. Abdelkareem Alzo’ubi, Professor of Civil Engineering, Abu Dhabi University
17:20
End of International Trenchless Exhibition and Conference MENA and Networking Coffee
Highlights of International Trenchless Exhibition & Conference Saudi Arabia Series in Pictures
WHO WILL ATTEND?
CxOs, Vice Presidents, Directors, Regional Managers, Heads, Engineers, and Specialists from the following areas:
- Infrastructure Planning
- Urban Development
- Water and Sewage
- Environmental Services
- Roads and Highways
- Drainage and Flood Management
- Geotechnical Engineering
- Hydraulic Engineering
- Transportation Planning
- Safety and Traffic Management
- Utilities and Infrastructure Maintenance
- Structural Engineering
- Environmental Protection
- Energy and Utilities Regulation
- Project Management and Integration
- Mechanical Engineering
- Legal and Regulatory Affairs
Stakeholder Categories
- Real Estate Developers
- Mining Companies
- Oil & Gas Companies
- Transport Infrastructure Project Owners
- Roads
- Rails
- Metros
- Bridges
- EPCs and Main Contractors
- Civil Infrastructure Project Owners
- Water and Sewage Water Projects
- Utility Providers (Water & Electricity)
- Telecommunications
- Green Initiative Projects
- Consultants
- Planning Consultants
- Technical Consultants
- Design Consultants
- Project Management Consultants
- Supervision Consultant
- Sub-Contractors
- Government
- Academia
Why Attend?
Discover Advanced No-Dig Innovations
Explore cutting-edge trenchless and tunnelling technologies transforming underground infrastructure delivery.
Deliver Projects Faster & More Efficiently
Learn how modern trenchless methods reduce costs, minimize disruption, and accelerate timelines.
Build Sustainable & Resilient Cities
Understand how low-impact construction supports environmental goals and climate-resilient development.
Strengthen Technical & Risk Management Expertise
Engage with government authorities, developers, consultants, and technology providers driving MENA’s infrastructure growth.
Testimonials
JOIN AS A PARTNER
Showcase Your Innovation:
Present your latest trenchless technologies, machinery, and solutions directly to project owners, EPCs, utilities, and decision-makers.
Build High-Value Partnerships:
Expand into Strategic Markets:
Generate Qualified Business Leads:
Stay Ahead of Market Trends:
OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE
We only work with the best to offer the best to our customers. Our conferences offer an unparalleled platform to get your message across to your target audience. Whether you are looking to educate your target market, launch a new product or increase your branding and visibility, our team will work closely with you to develop a package that suits your requirements and helps you stand out in this space.
partnerships@gmevents.ae
Sponsors & Partners
Platinum Sponsor
Gold Sponsor
Bronze Sponsor
Exhibitor
Exhibitor
Exhibitor
Exhibitor
Exhibitor
Networking Partner
Networking Partner
Media & Partners
Highlights of International Trenchless Exhibition & Conference United Arab Emirates Series in Videos
Floorplan
ACCOMMODATION
We’ve secured a special discounted rate at Conrad Dubai for our event attendees. Availability is limited, so we encourage you to book early to ensure your stay.
Exclusive Rate Details
Rate: AED 1000 per night (single occupancy), AED 1,122.5 per night (double occupancy)
Includes: Buffet breakfast and Wireless Internet
Inclusive of: 7% Municipality Fee, 10% Service Charge, 5% VAT, and Tourism Dirham AED 20 per room, per night.
HOW TO BOOK
To reserve your room, please email the following details to aura@gmevents.ae
- Full Guest Name
- Room Type (Single or Double)
- Check-in Date and Time
- Check-out Date and Time
- Method of Payment (Bank Transfer or Payment Link
- Check-in: 2:00 PM
- Check-out: 12:00 PM
- Early check-in and late check-out are subject to availability and may incur additional charges.
Registration
Online event registrations are now closed. You may purchase your ticket at the event registration counter on the 1st day of the event. Please refer to the agenda for timings.
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