Delivery leadership
Directs Project Managers and the Engineering, Project Controls, Procurement, Commercial, Tendering and Site Operations teams.
Motive International · Riyadh
Bassam Arnaout
Project Director · Architect · PMP® RMP® PMI-SP® PMI-PBA®
Riyadh, KSA · 24.7136° N, 46.6753° E
Bassam Arnaout is Project Director at Motive International, a Riyadh-based engineering and contracting firm established in 2008. He has 20+ years of experience delivering luxury fit-out, MEP and hospitality projects across Saudi Arabia, Lebanon and Qatar, on schedule and to a premium standard.
20+years in fit-out and construction
1.6B SARFaena Hotel, Diriyah Gate (main contracting scope)
SAR 250MIntercontinental fit-out, Red Sea Global
5PMI and LEED certifications
What a Project Director does for your project
Bassam leads the delivery of multiple commercial, hospitality, retail and mixed-use developments. He reports directly to the General Manager and is accountable for time, cost, quality and client expectations across the portfolio.
Project governance
Planning, cost control, scheduling, forecasting, risk management and executive reporting on every project.
Tendering and pre-construction
Reviews commercial strategy, technical proposals, pricing, resource planning and contract risk before a bid goes out.
Standards and quality
Develops procedures, KPIs and reporting systems, and leads quality management and continuous improvement.
One accountable team, from engineering to handover
Motive International keeps engineering, civil, MEP, fit-out, joinery and maintenance under one roof. That removes the hand-offs where schedules and quality usually slip.
| If your project faces… | Motive's answer |
|---|---|
| A missed or at-risk handover date | Fast execution with close control of time, resources and production, and no commitment to handover dates until open issues are resolved. |
| Quality lost between design and site | Engineering as the technical backbone behind site teams, with international-standard procedures and close management of each project's evolution. |
| Civil, MEP and fit-out contractors that are not coordinated | An in-house MEP team and fit-out division under one contractor and one accountable lead. |
| The need for international safety standards | Certified, well-trained safety officers on projects, so regulations and guidelines are properly implemented. |
| A slow maintenance provider after handover | Punctual, experience-led maintenance from the same company that built the project. |
ResidentialRetailCommercialEducationHealthcareHospitalityIndustrial
Motive’s projects across Saudi Arabia
Since 2008 Motive has completed more than 120 projects for over 80 clients, from high-end restaurants and corporate offices to warehouses, major events and public-sector works. In 2024 it opened its own joinery factory for bespoke craftsmanship.
17+years in Saudi Arabia
120+completed projects
80+satisfied clients, recurring and new
500+qualified employees
Cafe Boulud
Civil, MEP, fit-out and design development
Al Mamlaka Social Dining
Fit-out, MEP and design development
Loqma at the Four Seasons
Fit-out, MEP and design development
Okku
Fit-out and MEP
Patchi Villaggio
Fit-out and MEP
Patchi Yanbu
Fit-out and MEP
Patchi Solitaire Mall
Fit-out and MEP
Zaafaran
Fit-out and MEP
Illy Cafe
Civil, fit-out, MEP and design development
Alimenti
Fit-out, MEP and design development
Burger Boutique
Fit-out and MEP
L’Eclair de Génie
Fit-out, MEP and design development
Toqa
Fit-out and MEP
Tayba
Fit-out, MEP and design development
PepsiCo
Fit-out, MEP and design development
Saudi Cup Media Center
Civil, MEP, fit-out and design development
Rimadesio
Fit-out and MEP
D Offices
Fit-out, MEP and design development
R&D
Fit-out, MEP and design development
Taqnia
Fit-out and MEP
Salasa Offices
Fit-out, MEP and design development
Salasa Warehouses
Fit-out, MEP and design development
Aramex
Fit-out, MEP and design development
EVIC
Fit-out, MEP and design development
FEI World Cup
Civil, fit-out, MEP and design development
Other key events
Boxing Jeddah, Saudi Cup, FIFA, Saudi Games, Formula 1, Formula 1 stage, Taif Camel Race.
NEOM
Civil, MEP, fit-out and design development
Private residences
Fit-out and MEP
MOI
MEP and finishing
MOI 2
MEP
MBA
MEP and finishing
MOE
MEP, electrical and finishing
PNU Villas
Electrical and finishing
NASC
Electrical
KAP One
Electrical and finishing (partial)
Taawuniya
Data center
Amana
Data center
King Saud University
Building management system (partial)
Motive is certified to ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015 and ISO 45001:2018 for fit-out turnkey solutions, interior design and build projects, concept design and design development, high-end restaurants, industrial kitchens, corporate offices, retail outlets, educational institutions, residential projects, turnkey event projects, and industrial warehouses and their offices. Motive’s company profile notes that its work is not limited to the projects listed here.
Projects Bassam has delivered
These projects were delivered earlier in Bassam's career with other employers, before he joined Motive International in 2026. They show the standard he brings to Motive's clients.
Faena Hotel, Diriyah Gate
Led the fit-out package for an ultra-luxury hospitality destination: joinery, marble, gypsum, ceilings, finishes and MEP coordination.
Intercontinental Hotel, Shura Island
Led the complete fit-out package within the SAR 15B Red Sea Global programme, designed by Foster + Partners. Recovered critical delays and resolved design coordination through RFI management and mock-up approvals.
Waterfront City
Project Manager for a section of the development, alongside private villas of 3,000 to 8,000 m² covering structure, MEP, landscape and finishing.
Platinum Tower
High-end finishing across multiple floors of VIP residential units in a 33/35-storey tower, including glazing and bespoke interiors and fixtures.
Cinema City, Beirut Souks
Rose from Site Manager to Project Manager. Delivered high-spec acoustic systems within an operating mall environment.
Private villa, Rabieh
Executed by Bassam. His portfolio shows facade screens, stone stairs, a mosaic-tiled pool, marble flooring and fitted joinery.
Apartments, Beirut Central District
Three apartment interiors (APT 02, APT 03 and APT 07) executed by Bassam, each designed by an external interior designer.
Qatar Airways Premium Terminal
Managed high-end finishing for the First and Business Class terminal, including lounges, spa, fine dining and private check-in zones.
From Bassam’s portfolio
Selected achievements
Finishing cost on a luxury villa, through value engineering workshops, without compromising design intent.
Restructured subcontractor packages and fast-tracked procurement to hand over key zones of the Intercontinental fit-out on time.
Delivered LEED-compliant fit-out on a PIF-backed hospitality project, sourcing certified alternatives to keep platinum-level targets.
Red Sea Global formally recognised the project team for surpassing quality expectations across key milestones.
Certified, trained and still learning
PMP®PMI-RMP®PMI-PBA®PMI-SP®LEED Green Associate
Skilled in FIDIC contracts and claims administration, Primavera P6 planning, BIM coordination, value engineering, and HSE and quality assurance.
- Education
- B.Eng. Architectural Engineering, Beirut Arab University
- Now studying
- Executive MBA, American University of Beirut (enrolled)
- Languages
- Arabic (native), English (fluent), French (beginner)
- Based in
- Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Career
- Salam International (Qatar), D-TAB, Kocache, Arabian Construction Co., Saudi Icon, UCC Holding, then Motive International (2026 to present)
Questions clients ask
Who is Bassam Arnaout?
Bassam Arnaout is Project Director at Motive International in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He is an architect and PMP-certified project manager with more than 20 years of experience delivering fit-out, MEP and concrete works for luxury hotels, offices, malls, cinemas and public buildings across Lebanon, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
What does a Project Director do at Motive International?
Bassam leads the delivery and performance of multiple commercial, hospitality, retail and mixed-use projects. He directs the Project Managers and the Engineering, Project Controls, Procurement, Commercial, Tendering and Site Operations teams, sets up planning, cost control and risk governance, and reviews tenders and pre-construction strategy. He reports directly to the General Manager.
What kinds of projects has Bassam Arnaout delivered?
Earlier in his career he delivered the Faena Hotel at Diriyah Gate (a PIF project with a 1.6 billion SAR main contracting scope), the Intercontinental Hotel fit-out within Red Sea Global (SAR 250 million), Waterfront City and Platinum Tower in Beirut, Cinema City Beirut Souks, and the Qatar Airways Premium Terminal at Doha International Airport. These were delivered with other employers before he joined Motive International in 2026.
Which professional certifications does Bassam Arnaout hold?
He holds PMI Project Management Professional (PMP), Risk Management Professional (PMI-RMP), Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA) and Scheduling Professional (PMI-SP) certifications, plus LEED Green Associate. He is also enrolled in an Executive MBA at the American University of Beirut.
Why use one contractor for civil, MEP and fit-out?
When civil, MEP and fit-out are split across separate contractors, schedule slips are blamed across parties, design intent is lost between drawings and site, and safety and quality procedures vary. Motive International keeps engineering, civil, MEP, fit-out, joinery and maintenance under one roof, so one team is accountable from design through handover.
Which sectors and regions does Motive International serve?
Motive International, established in 2008 and headquartered in Riyadh, serves residential, retail, commercial, education, healthcare, hospitality and industrial clients in Saudi Arabia.
What is Motive International’s track record?
Motive International has worked in Saudi Arabia since 2008 and has completed 120+ projects for 80+ clients, with a team of 500+ qualified employees. Its work includes high-end restaurants, corporate offices, warehouses, major events, residences and public-sector projects. It opened its own joinery factory in 2024 and is certified to ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015 and ISO 45001:2018 for its fit-out and design-and-build activities.
How can I contact Bassam Arnaout?
Email barnaout@motiveint.com or call +966 53 798 4175. He is based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and speaks Arabic, English and basic French.
Planning a project in the Kingdom?
Share your scope, programme and handover date. Bassam will respond personally.