Academic Positions (Dates: MM/YYYY)
-09/2018-Present: Director, Institute of Leadership in Higher Education ,University of Sharjah Sharjah, UAE
-06/2018-present: Professor, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Sharjah, UAE.
-09/2016-9/2017: Chairman, University of Sharjah Sharjah, UAE.
-09/2007-6/2018: Associate Professor, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Sharjah, UAE.
-09/2000-09/2007: Assistant Professor, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Sharjah, UAE.
-08/1997-07/2000: Visiting professor, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Southern Illinois University, USA.
-08/1996-07/1997: Instructor, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Southern Illinois University, USA.
Administrative Positions (Dates: MM/YYYY)
-09/2016-present: Chairman, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Sharjah, UAE.
-01/2015-09/2016: A/Chairman, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.
-09/2014-01/2015: Associate Chair for Academic, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.
-09/2010-09/2014: Chairman, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Sharjah, UAE.
-09/2000-09/2010: Assistant to Chair, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Sharjah, UAE.
Professional/Industrial Positions (Dates: MM/YYYY)
-01/1995-01/1996: Geotechnical Design Engineer, Curry & Association Engineers Incorporated, Nashville, IL, USA.
Selected Journal Publications
1. Alotaibi, E., Omar, M., Shanableh, A., Zeiada, W., Fattah, M. Y., Tahmaz, A., & Arab, M. G. (2021). Geogrid bridging over existing shallow flexible PVC buried pipe–Experimental study. Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology, 113, 103945.
2. Arab, M. G., Omar, M., Almajed, A., Elbaz, Y., & Ahmed, A. H. (2021). Hybrid technique to produce bio-bricks using enzyme-induced carbonate precipitation (EICP) and sodium alginate biopolymer. Construction and Building Materials, 284, 122846.
3. Arab, M. G., Alzara, M., Zeiada, W., Omar, M., & Azam, A. (2020). Combined effect of compaction level and matric suction conditions on flexible pavement performance using construction and demolition waste. Construction and Building Materials, 261, 119792.
4. Omar, M., Shanableh, A., Hamad, K., Tahmaz, A., Arab, M. G., & Al-Sadoon, Z. (2019). Nomographs for predicting allowable bearing capacity and elastic settlement of shallow foundation on granular soil. Arabian Journal of Geosciences, 12(15), 1-11.
5. Zeiada, W., Hamad, K., Omar, M., Underwood, B. S., Khalil, M. A., & Karzad, A. S. (2019). Investigation and modelling of asphalt pavement performance in cold regions. International Journal of Pavement Engineering, 20(8), 986-997.
6. Omar, M., Shanableh, A., Mughieda, O., Arab, M., Zeiada, W., & Al-Ruzouq, R. (2018). Advanced mathematical models and their comparison to predict compaction properties of fine-grained soils from various physical properties. Soils and Foundations, 58(6), 1383-1399.
7. Omar, M., Shanableh, A., Arab, M., Hamad, K., & Tahmaz, A. (2018). Advanced Mathematical Models to Predict the Compaction Properties of Coarse-Grained Soils from Various Physical Properties. Geotechnical and Geological Engineering, 36(6), 3467-3483.
8. Omar, M., Hamad, K., Al Suwaidi, M., & Shanableh, A. (2018). Developing artificial neural network models to predict allowable bearing capacity and elastic settlement of shallow foundation in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. Arabian Journal of Geosciences, 11(16), 1-11.
9. Al-Ruzouq, R., Shanableh, A., Omar, M., & Al-Khayyat, G. (2018). Macro and micro geo-spatial environment consideration for landfill site selection in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. Environmental monitoring and assessment, 190(3), 1-15.
10. Maher Omar, Field Plate Load Test to Investigate Stress Distribution in Soil Mass with and without Reinforcement - United Arab Emirates, Jordan Journal of Civil Engineering , Vol. 11, No. 4, 2017
11. Waleed Zeiada, Khaled Hamad, Maher Omar, B. Shane Underwood, Mohamad Ali Khalil & Abdul Saboor Karzad (2017): Investigation and modelling of asphalt pavement performance in cold regions, International Journal of Pavement Engineering, DOI:10.1080/10298436.2017.1373391
12. A Shanableh, M Imteaz, K Hamad, M Omar (2017). T Merabtene, M Siddique, “Potential impact of global warming on whiting in a Semi-Enclosed Gulf”, International Journal of Global Warming, Vol. 13, Nos. 3/4
13. Maher Omar (2017) Empirical correlations for predicting strength properties of rocks – United Arab Emirates, International Journal of Geotechnical Engineering, Vol. 11, No. 3, pp 248-261
DOI: 10.1080/19386362.2016.1214339
14. Maher Omar, Abdallah Shanableh & Marwan Al Zaylaie, “Modification of the Swelling Characteristics and Phosphorus Retention of Bentonite Clay Using Alum”, Soils and Foundations, Vol. 56, No. 5, pp 861- 868, 2016
15. Maher Omar, Abdallah Shanableh, “Evaluation of Methods Used For Reducing Heavy Metal Leaching From Sandy Soil”, Geotechnical and Geological Engineering, Vol. 34, No. 5
(DOI 10.1007/s12517-015-2194-8)
Selected Conference Publications
1. Arab, M. G., Omar, M., Alotaibi, E., Mostafa, O., Naeem, M., & Badr, O. (2020). Bio-Inspired 3D-Printed Honeycomb for Soil Reinforcement. In Geo-Congress 2020: Biogeotechnics (pp. 262-271). Reston, VA: American Society of Civil Engineers.
2. Arab, M., Omar, M., Aljassmi, R., Nasef, R., Nassar, L., & Miro, S. (2019, November). EICP Cemented Sand Modified with Biopolymer. In International Congress and Exhibition" Sustainable Civil Infrastructures” (pp. 74-85). Springer, Cham.
3. Obaid, L., Alani, S., Omar, M., Barakat, S., Arab, M., Leblouba, M. & Tahmaz, A. (2019). The development of a local ground motion prediction equation from recorded data. In Proceedings of the 4th world congress on civil, structural, and environmental engineering (CSEE’19). https://doi. org/10.11159/icgre19 (Vol. 181).
4. Rohy, H., Arab, M., Zeiada, W., Omar, M., Almajed, A., & Tahmaz, A. (2019). One Phase Soil Bio-Cementation with EICP-Soil Mixing. In Conference Proceedings of the 4th World Congress on Civil, Structural, and Environmental Engineering (CSEE’19).
5. Arab, M., Talha, M., Omar, M., Zeiada, W., Shanableh, A., & Rammal, R. (2019). Using Alkali-Activated Binders to Improve UAE Dune Sand. In Conference Proceedings of the 4th World Congress on Civil, Structural, and Environmental Engineering (CSEE’19).
6. Emran Alotaibi, Maher Omar, Mohamed G. Arab, Abdallah Shanableh, Waleed Zeiada, Ali Tahmaz, Experimental Investigation of the Effect of Geogrid Reinforced Backfill Compaction on Buried Pipelines Response, 4th International Conference On Geotechnical Research and Engineering (ICGRE'19), Rome, Italy, April 7 to 9, 2019.
7. Omar, M. (2018). Comparative Study between Mathematical Models for Prediction of Strength Properties of Rocks in United Arab Emirates. In Civil Infrastructures Confronting Severe Weathers and Climate Changes Conference (pp. 45-59). Springer, Cham.
8. M. Omar, A. Shanableh, S. Abduljalil, M. Arab, K. Hamad, A. Tahmaz, “Geotechnical Mapping of Seismic Risk For Sharjah City, United Arab Emirates”, Global Civil Engineering Conference (GCEC2017), Faculty of Engineering University, Putra Malaysia, July 2017
9. Maher Omar, Khaled Hamad, A Shanableh, Ali Tahmaz, Efforts To Maximize The Success Of Students On Probation, 8th International Forum on Engineering Education (8th IFEE2017), April 18-20, 2017
10. Maher Omar, “Microzonation Map of Liquefaction Potential for Sharjah, United Arab Emirates”, International Conference on Geotechnical Research and Engineering (Icgre'16), Prague, Czech Republic, March 2016
- Chair of Organizing & Scientific Committees, 2nd Teaching and Learning Forum
“Integrating Technology into Teaching and Learning”, February 26th, 2019, Sharjah,
United Arab Emirates.
- Chair of Organizing Committee, Leadership in Higher Education in the Middle East Conference, November 2019, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
- Chair of Organizing & Scientific Committees, 8th International Forum on Engineering Education (IFEE2017) “Advances in Engineering Education” Jointly with 4th International Conference towards Sustainable Development (ICTSD2017) “Educating Engineers for Sustainability, UOS
- Co-Chair of Scientific & member of Organizing Committees, International Conference on Advances in Sustainable Construction Materials & Civil Engineering Systems (ASCMCES 17), UOS
- Chair of Organizing Committee & Member of Preparation Committee, involved in all aspects of the 10th, 11th, 12th, and 13th Annual Research Forums4
- Organized with a colleague through the Department & RISE a workshop on February 1, 2018 focusing on fundamental principles that underlie current and anticipated
developments in geotechnical engineering (Bio-mediated & Bio-inspired Geotechnics)
- Organized with colleagues through the Department & RISE a workshop on Fiber
Reinforced Concrete, materials, applications and design aspects in Collaboration with the University of Brescia in Italy, 2018
- Organizing Committee, 14th International Conference on Construction Applications of Virtual Reality in Construction (CONVR 2014), UOS, 2014.
- Chair of Organizing & Scientific Committees, 7th International Forum on Engineering Education (IFEE2015) "Quality Assurance in Engineering Education" Jointly with 3rd
Towards Sustainable Development (3rd TSD2015) Conference "Sustainable Development in Engineering Education, Research and Practice"
- Proceedings of the Advances in Sustainable Construction Materials & Civil Engineering Systems, 18-20 April 2017, University of Sharjah, UAE
- Proceedings of the 8th International Forum on Engineering Education, University of Sharjah, 2018
- Co-authored an edited book on Engineering Education: “Quality Assurance in Engineering Education”. Publisher: University of Sharjah (350 pages), ISBN: 978-9948-10-122-0
- Co-authored an edited book on Engineering Education: Engineering Education in the 21st Century - Quality, Globalization and Local Relevance, ISBN: 9948-10-098-0
- Organizing Committee, 5th International Arab Conference on Quality Assurance in Higher Education
- Co-Chair of Judging Committee, "Think Science Competition", (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019), Emirates Foundation for Youth Development.
- Jointly with other colleagues conducted two workshops in different locations in Sharjah and Abu Dhabi. The number of beneficiaries was over 1000 from high school students and teachers, the following are the deliverables (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018):
1. Interactive Session 1: How to make and present your project
2. Interactive Session 2: Judging criteria
- Conducted two workshops as part of the 5th International Arab Conference on Quality Assurance in Higher Education (IACQA 2015), the deliverables are Student Learning Outcomes and Assessment & Program Self Study
- Chair of Judging Committee, 4th Intel Science Competition- Arab World, October, 2013.
- Workshop Facilitator, "National Qualification Framework Emirates and Program and Course Outcomes and assessment", Sunday March 3rd, 2013.
- Chair of Judging Committee, Intel Science Competition- Arab World, December 2012.
- Chair of Organizing Committee, Intel Science Competition- Arab World, University of Sharjah, November 27th-30th, 2011.
- Chair of Organizing Committee, 5th IFEE Conference, 2010, “Engineering Education in the 21st Century: Quality, Globalization and Local Relevance”.
- Organizing Committee, 4th IFEE Conference, 2006, “Eng Education – Integrating
Teaching and Research with Community Service”.
- Organizing Committee, 3rd IFEE Conference, 2003 “Engineering Education & Building Partnership with Government, Industry & Society”
- Organizing Committee, 2nd IFEE Conference, 2002, “Generic Attributes in Engineering Education-Issues and Development”.
- Organizing Committee, 1st IFEE Conference, 2001 "The Changing Role of Engineering Education in the Information Age-Innovation and Tradition”
- Chair of Organizing Committee, “International Conference on Geotechnical Engineering 2004”, 3-6 October 2004, Sharjah, UAE
