Code Council welcomes new regional director to lead Dubai office

The International Code Council welcomes Mohamed Ahmed Amer who joins the association as the regional director of operations in the Middle East. Amer will run the Code Council’s new Dubai office and provide essential on-the-ground support to organizations involved in building safety in the region, including government entities, construction and facilities management organizations, manufacturers, and design professionals.

With over a decade of experience in project management, oil and gas, and testing, inspecting and certification industries, Amer will be responsible for leading the Code Council’s operations in the Middle East and Gulf regions through engagement with governmental decisionmakers, non-governmental organizations and other stakeholders to promote building safety through the use of the Code Council family of solutions. The grand opening event of the Code Council’s new Dubai office was postponed due to public health concerns related to the coronavirus (COVID-19) but will occur later this year. Meanwhile, particularly given the current pandemic, the Code Council remains committed to international building safety norms, and the organization’s daily work in the region will continue under Amer’s leadership.

“Construction and the use of innovative building materials and practices is a huge area of opportunity in the region and having effective building codes and standards is critical in ensuring safe and resilient growth,” said Amer. “Having witnessed first-hand the impact and importance of the Code Council’s work, I’m excited to be joining the team, especially as the organization expands its on-the-ground operations overseas.”

Prior to joining the Code Council, Amer was the regional standards manager at Underwriters Laboratories (UL), where he worked to advance UL’s mission by building relationships with key stakeholders to bridge gaps and establish a robust regulatory framework across various divisions.

“Having Amer on board to launch our growth plans in the Middle East is a significant step in implementing our global strategy,” said Code Council CEO Dominic Sims, CBO. “The Code Council unveiled a number of targeted global initiatives as part of its Vision 2025 strategic plan and we are pleased to see this first big move to expand the Code Council’s reach and building safety mission outside of the United States coming to fruition.”

“Amer is a great addition to the Code Council family of solutions,” said Judy Zakreski, Code Council vice president of Global Services. “His knowledge of standards, the construction industry and his experience working with government entities in the Middle East that are our current or future partners will position us well to build on our previous successes in the region.”

The Code Council has been involved in projects in the region for more than 25 years and several jurisdictions use the International Codes as the basis for their building safety regulations. With several memoranda of understanding in place with important industry organizations, the regional presence in Dubai will place the Code Council in a better position to implement some of the initiatives that have been under discussion.

The establishment of the Code Council’s Dubai office also signals the organization’s larger effort to increase its presence in the international marketplace and commitment to promoting building safety worldwide. Download the association’s global strategy here.