Blue Ocean Capital’s founder has over 11 years of key leadership roles within large urban development projects in Europe and the Middle-East.

As the head of hospitality at CDCI (a family office and private equity with multi million dollars interests in urban development, hospitality, real estate, oil and gas & construction – with offices in Geneva, Beirut, Doha & Los Angeles - www.cdcint.com ), he had a key role in negotiating a Public Private Partnership (PPP) with the Montenegro Government.

As such; he liaised with government officials at the highest level as to create a new urban development and luxury destination (plot of 500 hectares, 4 million m2 of built up space, a 1 billion Euros + investment).

Walid co-led master planning teams and presented to both Minister of Finance & Tourism a world-class waterfront urban development that would include around 10 luxury hotels & resorts, thousands of branded & non-branded residences, a 500 berths luxury marina & extensive retail & F&B facilities. Subsequently, the international public tender bid submission resulted in CDCI being the first ranked bidder.

At The Pearl – Qatar; Walid was the founding General Manager and a board member at the Hospitality Development Company (HDC) – A wholly owned subsidiary of the United Development Company (UDC) ; a $5 billion market cap public shareholding company in Doha, Qatar.

UDC is the master developer of “the most glamorous address in the Middle East”, www.thepearlqatar.com .

During his 5 years tenure at the Pearl, Walid was also an Executive member of The Pearl Island Executive Steering Committee; effectively addressing all the challenges related to operating this luxury island community.