The 2017 Award of Achievement was presented to Mr. Abdulhamid Darwish for his " life time contribution towards enhancing professionalism and contract law compliance in engineering practices in the State of Kuwait."

Mr. Darwish’s life started in the mid 1930s, on the famous 9th Street in the cozy Cairo suburb of Maadi, a neighbourhood that was home to some of Egypt’s great philosophers, poets and politicians. His early schooling was completed during the 2nd World War; and as a young man he witnessed the fall of a king and the start of socialism in Egypt.

Late 1950s and early 1960 were happy years at Cairo University, where his engineering studies were enhanced as a ping pong champion and a long distance swimmer. The B.Sc. Civil Engineering degree he obtained there was followed by a postgraduate diploma in 1964, in Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering.

Early Career and Professional Progress

Following a few years working in Cairo, it was time for professional advancement. In 1970, he came to Kuwait with his wife and child, and through a chance meeting he was introduced to Kuwait Engineering Office. He joined them as a Resident Engineer, and thus began a fruitful and life-long association with what is now one of Kuwait’s oldest consulting firms, KEO International Consultants. His distinguished career path at KEO was rapidly progressive, as he quickly moved through various increasingly responsible leadership and management positions. After serving as Head of Civil Engineering and Supervision, he became the General Manager of KEO All Plan, a design, testing and surveying subsidiary. He was thereafter appointed Director of Construction and Administration, and this was followed by other important designations as Deputy Managing Director; Executive Vice President for Special Assessments; and Deputy President. He is currently Deputy to the Chairman.

Career Highlights

Mr. Darwish’s many colleagues at KEO will tell you how good he was and still is as a guide, trainer and mentor. In late 1980s, while serving as KEO’s Deputy Managing Director, he developed an interest in resolving claims, and he soon became a professional witness for the firm.

Following the 1990 occupation of Kuwait and the 1st Gulf War, he was appointed Principal-inCharge for assessing war damaged projects. This involved preparing design and tender documents for rehabilitating 45 severely damaged building and structures, as well as representing KEO in Kuwaiti courts. This in-depth involvement became the catalyst for his passion for resolving disputes, and their legal implications in engineering and construction practices.

Expertise in dispute resolution was enhanced through vast practical experience, knowledge of the design and construction industry, outstanding analytical ability as well as competence and confidence in conducting negotiations.

This, of course, needed effectiveness in communicating complex problems, and he soon developed a well-earned reputation for delivering objective judgements.

His interest in contract law and passion for forensic engineering led to a further post-graduate qualification. A degree in Construction Law and Arbitration, was obtained at Aberdeen Business School, The Robert Gordon University.

As would be expected, throughout his long career he has completed many in-depth studies and authored various academic papers and publications, some of which have made their way into the Library of Congress in USA.

Personality

Mr. Darwish has been and continues to be actively involved in training, an activity that he greatly enjoys. He does this within KEO, at Kuwait University, and through regular webinars for post-graduate students at the Robert Gordon University.

He has also prepared technical guides and conducted seminars for ACI-Kuwait Chapter, of which he is founding member. Mr. Darwish, famously and lovingly known as the ‘Fireman’ and the ‘Silver Fox’ for his ability to diffuse disputes and solve problems, is a charming and elegant man who has taken care good of himself.

He maintains a regular regime of swimming and walking, and reading is a favorite hobby. His life’s philosophy is to keep thinking young and to continue to pursue new interests, whether work related or not.

Needless to say, he is a committed family man who adores his children. They have all achieved success in their own rights: Osama, the eldest is an Mr. Abdul Hamid Darwish receiving the award of achievement from His Excellency minister of Public works, Husam Abdulla Al Roumi IT professional in Canada.

Dalia, a Masters graduate of Swansea University is with the United Nations and is based in Kuwait; and Inji, who has amazing writing skills, has a Masters degree in graphic design from United Kingdom.