Dr. Ammar is leading Aramco’ s effort to drive strategic innovation across the company and within the Dhahran wider innovation ecosystem.
Until recently, he was the CEO of Dhahran Techno Valley Company, driving a transformation of Dhahran Techno Valley from a classical Science Park into an integrated global innovation zone for energy and sustainability--connecting and activating the exceptional innovation, economic and industrial assets around Dhahran, and forming the larger and much more impactful Dhahran Techno Valley ecosystem.
Previously, Dr. Ammar led Aramco’ s Research & Development Center( R & DC), including a team of nearly 600 scientists and staff focused on R & D challenges in midstream, downstream and sustainability.
Dr. Ammar started his career with Saudi Aramco as a Mechanical Engineer in Abqaiq Plants. He then progressed through many technical and leadership roles, including a 5-year secondment as a founding member of the King Abdullah University for Science & Technology team, where he eventually served as KAUST’ s Vice President for R & D Management. He also served on a number of boards of companies related to his various roles.
Dr. Ammar holds a Master’ s and a Ph. D. degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology( MIT), and a B. Sc. from King Saud University, all in Mechanical Engineering. He is the 2002 recipient of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers( ASME) Gas Turbine Award for his published research in turbomachines.