SHEIK ABDUL SAFUR
Dubai
Summary
Strategic Procurement & Supply Chain Leader with 27 years of expertise in driving operational excellence and cost optimization. Accomplished General Manager in Procurement and Supply Chain Operations, experienced in leading procurement strategies and optimizing supply chain operations across EPC projects, Manufacturing, FMS, and General trading sectors in the MENA and Asia regions. Expertise in strategic sourcing, vendor management, contract negotiations, and supply chain optimization. Proven ability to lead multi-million-dollar procurement operations, drive cost-saving initiatives, and improve operational efficiency. Demonstrated success in reducing procurement costs by up to 15%, increasing supply chain efficiency by 12%, and improving on-time delivery to 99.5%. Skilled in implementing ERP and e-procurement systems, value engineering, and agile procurement strategies, resulting in reduced cycle times, enhanced supplier relationships, and optimized inventory management. Strong background in managing large-scale projects in the MENA and Asia regions, with a focus on exceeding budget targets, improving customer satisfaction, and aligning procurement strategies with business goals. Certified Supply Chain Expert (CPD, UK), with a Diploma in Procurement & Supply from CIPS, UK, and a Bachelor's in Electrical & Electronics Engineering.
Overview
28
28
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
General Manager - Procurement & Supply Chain Operations
MEPSERVE Group
01.2019 - Current
- As General Manager, I report directly to the Managing Director and Board of Directors, leading the strategic direction and operational management of procurement and supply chain functions across multiple business units (BU) within EPC Projects, Manufacturing, FMS, and Trading sectors in the MENA and Asia regions
- I oversee group-level procurement operations, including material and service sourcing, contract negotiation and management, logistics, inventory control, budget development and oversight, and regulatory approvals
- Key Achievements: Increased revenue by $5M and reduced costs by 15% through supply chain process optimization
- Achieved a 4% cost reduction via strategic sourcing and negotiations
- Boosted turnover by 8% through new global brand contracts
- Enhanced supply chain efficiency by 12%, adding $3.7M in revenue
- Improved supplier performance by 30% with stricter compliance and vendor evaluations
- Achieved 99.5% on-time delivery and improved supplier delivery times by 20%
- Key Projects: Khalifa Ports Terminal KPCT1, COSCO CSP Terminal, Etihad Rail Project, Khalifa Port Terminal 1 North Quay & West Quay Development, O&M FM of Reefers for Jebel Ali Terminals 1, 2 & 3
General Manager - Procurement
MEPSERVE FZCO
09.2015 - 12.2018
- As General Manager, I was responsible for leading procurement operations for large-scale EPC projects in the ports and construction industries
- I reported directly to the Managing Director and spearheaded procurement strategies, material sourcing, contract negotiations, vendor management, project resource planning, and budget oversight across multiple projects
- My role was focused on cost optimization, performance improvement, and ensuring efficient execution of procurement processes
- Key Achievements: Achieved a 14% reduction in annual procurement costs by negotiating cost-effective supplier contracts
- Managed a $30M procurement budget, overseeing vendor contracts across multiple categories and generating $1.5M in annual cost savings through contract renegotiations, driving profitability
- Transformed procurement operations, increasing project delivery efficiency to a 95% on-time rate by optimizing ERP systems and streamlining processes
- Achieved a 98% supplier compliance rate by overhauling vendor management systems and integrating robust Quality Management Systems (QMS) and Management Information Systems (MIS) practices
- Reduced procurement cycle times by 30% through the implementation of agile procurement strategies, enhancing operational efficiency
- Ensured high customer satisfaction by minimizing material rejections and delays, supporting on-time project completion
- Key Projects: Jebel Ali Terminal 4, Jebel Ali Terminals 1 and 2, Abu Dhabi Midfield Terminal Building Project, Dubai Metro Expo 2020 Route Project, Dubai Hills Mall Project
Assistant General Manager - Procurement
ETA Group of Companies
11.2014 - 08.2015
- Led the procurement and supply chain management for MEP materials and services across EPC, manufacturing, and FMS projects in the U.A.E., Qatar, and Saudi Arabia
- Reported directly to the Group Head of Procurement, managing a procurement budget of $350M
- Oversaw procurement operations for 100+ projects annually, ensuring strict adherence to financial, operational, and QMS standards
- Key Achievements: Delivered 4% bottom-line savings on procurement of goods and services for projects exceeding AED 2B, surpassing targets
- Achieved a 15% reduction in procurement costs for FY2015, generating savings of $4M through strategic vendor negotiations and cost-effective sourcing
- Defined Key Success Factors (KSF) and KPIs for teams, aligning departmental objectives with Balanced Scorecard (BSC) methodology
- Developed and managed procurement budgets with clear savings targets for each business unit, ensuring efficient allocation of resources
- Streamlined procurement processes through reverse auction implementation across business units
- Leveraged value engineering and reverse auction strategies, generating an additional 3% savings beyond standard negotiation methods
- Enhanced procurement cycle time by 30% through 25% and reducing lead times from 60 to 45 days
- Key Projects: Paramount Towers, DAMAC, 440 Villas, TECOM, District Cooling Plant 3, EMPOWER, GASCO Development Project, Habshan, Musheirib Downtown, Doha
Senior Manager - Procurement
ETA Group of Companies
01.2012 - 10.2014
- As Senior Manager of Procurement, I managed the procurement of over $250M in goods and services annually for MEP construction, manufacturing, and interior fit-out projects across the UAE and Qatar
- I was responsible for overseeing the full procurement lifecycle from RFQ to DLP, ensuring compliance, quality standards, and optimal project delivery
- Additionally, I played a pivotal role in driving cost-saving initiatives and improving procurement efficiency
- Key Achievements: Delivered $2M savings by negotiating favorable supplier terms, improving profit margins
- Managed a global supplier portfolio across 10 countries, reducing lead times by 15% on key projects
- Achieved 100% contract renewals with top suppliers through strong relationships and performance metrics
- Developed unified budget control reports and material coding systems, reducing wastage and improving budget control
- Implemented a 3-tier framework and SOPs, optimizing team performance across 30+ procurement engineers
- Enhanced procurement efficiency and cash flow through strategic sourcing and supplier management
- Key Projects: Dubai World Central Airport, Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain, Hilton Hotel and Residence, Riyadh, Barwa Commercial Development, Doha
Procurement Manager
ETA M&E Group
04.2006 - 12.2011
- As Procurement Manager, I successfully managed an annual procurement budget of $150M, overseeing contracts for MEP EPC projects, Manufacturing, and FMS divisions across the U.A.E
- I led the procurement of over 2500 SKUs annually, ensuring a diverse and compliant supply chain
- My role involved procurement process optimization, vendor management, and cost-saving initiatives that significantly enhanced operational efficiency
- Key Achievements: Managed a $150M procurement budget for MEP EPC, Manufacturing, and FMS projects
- Reduced supply chain inefficiencies by 25% through process optimization
- Achieved 98% on-time project delivery by streamlining procurement and establishing vendor partnerships
- Saved 3% in project costs by implementing budget control via ERP systems
- Mitigated material price risks with volume rebate agreements and hedging contracts
- Turned around Interior & Fit-out business from losses to profitability through strategic sourcing
- Key Projects: Dubai Airport Expansion Concourse 3, Dubai Metro Red & Green Line, Cleveland Clinic, Abu Dhabi, Doha Convention Center, District Cooling Plant 2 by EMPOWER
Senior Procurement Engineer
ETA M&E Division
04.1997 - 03.2006
- As Senior Procurement Engineer, I coordinated with project and estimation teams to manage procurement from project award through to handover, ensuring the effective allocation of resources and strict adherence to budgetary constraints
- I implemented cost-saving strategies, optimized supplier relationships, and drove operational efficiencies to support large-scale MEP projects across multiple countries
- Key Achievements: Managed procurement for 100+ projects across 5 countries with an average value of $25M
- Achieved 15% cost reduction through optimized supplier contracts and bulk purchasing
- Delivered 10% savings by consolidating materials across projects
- Reduced procurement cycle time by 35% using strategic sourcing
- Awarded 'Procurement Team of the Year' for exceeding cost-saving targets by 10%
- Cut lead times by 30% through the integration of advanced ERP systems
- Negotiated favourable payment terms, extending net payment days by 30
- Reduced material wastage at projects and increased cost savings by implementing Unified material codification & Monthly Project budget control reports
- Key Projects: Dubai Airport Expansion Concourse 3, Dubai Metro Red & Green Lines, Cleveland Clinic, Abu Dhabi, Doha Convention Center
Education
Diploma in Procurement and Supply - CIPS Level 4
The Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply
Dubai, U.A.E06.2015
Bachelor of Engineering - Electrical and Electronics
Madurai Kamaraj University
Tamilnadu, India06.1996
Skills
- Integration of ERP and Procurement
- Quality Management Processes
- Analytical Reporting Skills
- Spend Management Expertise
- Supply Chain Management
- Risk Assessment & Compliance
- Effective Sourcing Strategies
- Contractual Agreement Negotiation
- Procurement Strategy Development
- Budget Optimization
- Continuous Improvement Practices
- Procurement Management
Accomplishments
Core team member in formation of Centralized Procurement Department in developing the process framework (SLA, SOP, KPIs) for ETA Ascon (Al Ghurair) group of companies having 40+ business units under 5 industry verticals.
Turned around a Business unit in loss to profit making by strategic procurement and process optimization.
Certification
- Certified Supply Chain Expert, International Federation of Purchasing and Supply Management, U.S.A.
- Certified International Procurement Auditor, Institute of Purchasing and Supply Management, U.S.A.
Languages
Arabic
English
Hindi
Tamil
Malayalam
Visa Details
Golden Visa (valid up to 12/31/33)
Personal Information
- Date of Birth: 05/20/74
- Nationality: INDIAN
- Marital Status: MARRIED
Value Proposition
Strategic Procurement & Supply Chain Leader with 27+ Years of Proven Expertise in Driving Operational Excellence & Cost Optimization. Accomplished General Manager in Procurement and Supply Chain Operations with over 27 years of experience leading procurement strategies and optimizing supply chain operations across EPC projects, Manufacturing, FMS, and General trading sectors in the MENA and Asia regions. Expertise in strategic sourcing, vendor management, contract negotiations, and supply chain optimization. Proven ability to lead multi-million-dollar procurement operations, drive cost-saving initiatives, and improve operational efficiency. Demonstrated success in reducing procurement costs by up to 15%, increasing supply chain efficiency by 12%, and improving on-time delivery to 99.5%. Skilled in implementing ERP and e-procurement systems, value engineering, and agile procurement strategies, resulting in reduced cycle times, enhanced supplier relationships, and optimized inventory management. Strong background in managing large-scale projects in the MENA and Asia regions, with a focus on exceeding budget targets, improving customer satisfaction, and aligning procurement strategies with business goals. Certified Supply Chain Expert (CPD, UK), with a Diploma in Procurement & Supply from CIPS, UK, and a Bachelor's in Electrical & Electronics Engineering.
Timeline
General Manager - Procurement & Supply Chain Operations
MEPSERVE Group
01.2019 - Current
General Manager - Procurement
MEPSERVE FZCO
09.2015 - 12.2018
Assistant General Manager - Procurement
ETA Group of Companies
11.2014 - 08.2015
Senior Manager - Procurement
ETA Group of Companies
01.2012 - 10.2014
Procurement Manager
ETA M&E Group
04.2006 - 12.2011
Senior Procurement Engineer
ETA M&E Division
04.1997 - 03.2006
Bachelor of Engineering - Electrical and Electronics
Madurai Kamaraj University
Diploma in Procurement and Supply - CIPS Level 4
The Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply
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