Waleid Al Mesmari is President of the Advanced Sensing cluster at EDGE, the UAE-based advanced technology and defence group. In his role, Al Mesmari provides oversight and strategic direction on the integration, development and transformation of sensing capabilities across EDGE. With extensive experience in electronic warfare and advanced technologies, Al Mesmari drives commercial opportunities and manages strategic ventures in the sensing domain.
Prior to joining EDGE, Al Mesmari served as Manager of Business Analysis and Strategic Planning within the UAE government, where he specialised in cybersecurity. During his tenure, he was responsible for developing the organisation’s strategic plans in collaboration with its diverse stakeholders. He oversaw effective governance frameworks in support of high-level strategies and ensured the organisation kept pace with emerging trends. Al Mesmari identified long-term commercial opportunities and aligned these with operational requirements.
Earlier in his career, as Head of the Ankabut Network at Etisalat, Al Mesmari established the UAE’s National Research and Education Network (NREN), the country’s first IPv6-ready telecommunications core network, enabling communication and collaboration between students, researchers, and educational institutions across the UAE.
Al Mesmari holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from the Abu Dhabi School of Management. He also has a Bachelor of Computer Engineering degree from the Etisalat University College, Sharjah. Additionally, Al Mesmari has completed an Executive Development Program at Columbia Business School in New York, as well as the Future Foresight Program conducted by the UAE Prime Minister’s Office in collaboration with the University of Oxford, UK.
