Omar Abdulaziz Hallaj

Partner

Istanbul, Türkiye

Profile

A consultant on urban planning, development and local governance.  A Co-founder and Partner at LUGARIT, where he is engaged in facilitating various dialogue, research, and policy projects for peace-building, recovery, development, and governance in the MENA region.  His professional and published research covers the institutional, financial and political aspects of the urban built environment; housing, land and property (HLP); and the war economy.  Formerly, he was the CEO of the Syria Trust for Development, and served on the boards of several NGO’s, public commissions and microfinance institutions.  In 2007, Mr. Hallaj was the recipient of the Aga Khan Award for Architecture as team leader of the Shibam Urban Development Project. He subsequently served on the master jury and steering committee of the award.  He is currently a member of the Syrian Constitutional Committee as part of the civil society delegation.

Education

Masters of Architecture  


Bachelor of Science in Architectural Engineering  

Expertise

Skills

Professional Skills


Language Skills

Awards

Work Experience

Partner

LUGARIT
April 2021 - Present
Melbourne, Australia

A Co-Founder and Partner at LUGARIT.  Responsibilities include:  

Principal 

Logos Civicus
October 2020 - Present
Istanbul, Türkiye

Founded a private consulting company.  Work included:

Independent Consultant 

January 2013 – October 2020
Beirut, Lebanon

Visiting Lecturer, then Visiting Assistant Professor 

American University of Beirut
September 2012  -  December 2015
Beirut, Lebanon

Chief Executive Officer

Syria Trust for Development
January 2010  -  December 2012
Damascus, Syria

Team Leader

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit  (GIZ)
Project for the Development of Historic Cities  in Yemen >
July 2007  -  December 2009
Sana’a, Yemen

Team Leader

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit  (GIZ)
Shibam Urban Development Project >
August 2004  -  June 2007
Shibam, Yemen

Partner

SURADEC
January 1999 – August 2004
Aleppo, Syria

Architect

F. H. Jaberi Architects 
July 1993 – January 1999
Aleppo, Syria

Teaching Assistant 

University of Texas at Austin,  School of Architecture
January 1990 - May 1992
Austin, Texas, USA

Jury

Academic Engagements and Public Lectures

Special Experiences

Publications