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Dr. Fay Abdulla Al Khalifa

Associate Professor

Architecture and Interior Design - Architecture Program
17438088
1-58
fayalkhalifa@uob.edu.bh

Areas of Expertise

  • Executive Leadership
  • Leading Change
  • Architecture and Urbanism
  • Sustainability
  • Cultural Change
  • Smart Sustainable Cities
  • Environmental Social Governance
  • Digital Transformation
  • Compliance
  • Quality Assurance

Education

  • PhD Urban Sustainability and Cultural Change, University of Sheffield, UK, 2015.
  • Master of Conservation and Regeneration, University of Sheffield, UK, 2012.
  • BS.c Architecture, University of Bahrain, Bahrain, 2010.

Biography

Experienced in enabling sustainable organizational change in both the public and private sectors. A Board Member of INVITA Bahrain and the Director of Quality Assurance and Accreditation at the University of Bahrain. Leading cross-organizational teams and playing an active role in maintain quality and assuring compliance. Managing the development of institutional performance and academic excellence.

An Associate Professor holding a Ph.D. in Urban Sustainability and Cultural Change. Published 30+ publications aspiring to contribute to the understanding of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) requirements, Architecture and Urbanism, and Smart Sustainable Cities. Deeply knowledgeable and passionate about developing strategies to communicate and embed sustainability aims and ambitions and improving the effectiveness of ESG reporting. Experienced in ESG reporting frameworks, ISO standards and TCFD and GRI disclosures requirements.

The first Bahraini GRI Certified Sustainability Professional holding a number of professional certificates in sustainability, in addition to being a certified expert in blockchain technologies by the Blockchain Council, a fellow of the British Academy of Higher Education and an Associate of the American Green Building Council.

Won the Golden Lion award for Bahrain with teammates in the Venice Biennially in 2010 and the RIBA’s president’s award in 2012. Also obtained the Emerging Scholar Award in 2018 and the Smart Urbanism Award in 2019. Enabled the university to win the Blackboard Catalyst Award for Leading Change in 2020 and Anthology's Excellence in Innovation Award in 2022.

Chairs the Board of Directors of Bahrain Smart City Society and is a member of the Board of Directors of the Technology and Business Society in Bahrain and the UK Alumni Network of the British Council in Bahrain.

Achievements

  • 2020 Blackboard Catalyst Award for Leading Change (Through Covid-19).
  • 2019 Smart Urbanism Award, Bahrain Smart Cities Summit 2019.
  • 2018 Emerging Scholar Award, the Design Principles and Practices Conference, Barcelona-Spain.
  • 2012 RIBA President’s Award for Outstanding Research: The Best Architecture Masters Thesis in the Uk.
  • 2010 First Prize at the University of Bahrain Senior Projects Competition.
  • 2010 Venice Biennale Golden Lion Award.

Affiliations

  • Academic Committee, University of Bahrain Board of Trustees, 2024-Present
  • Advisory Board Member, Women in Tech, Bahrain Chapter 2023-Present
  • Advisory Board Member, Technology and Business Society in Bahrain 2023-Present
  • Board Member, INVITA Bahrain. 2022-Present
  • Chair of the Board of Directors, Bahrain Smart Cities Society. 2021-Present
  • Board Member, UK Alumni Network Bahrain -British Council-. 2019- Present
  • Board Member, Technology and Business Society in Bahrain. 2021-2023
  • Member, Executive Committee of the Regional Center of ICT (RCICT). 2019-2023
  • Member, Executive Committee of eLearning Officials. 2019-2023
  • in Universities and Higher Education Institutions of the GCC.
  • Other fellowships and memberships with organizations in Bahrain and abroad such as the UK HEA, the AI Group in Bahrain, the U.S. GBC, the AIA, and the Bahrain Society of Engineers.

Grants & Contracts Awarded

Research Funding 140,000$

Publications & Presentations

  1. Alkhalifa, F.A. (2025), Assessing the Predictive Power of LEED Certification on ESG Performance: Limitations and Implications for Holistic Sustainability Measurement. Sustainable Development. https://doi.org/10.1002/sd.3535
  2. Shams, D.S. and Alkhalifa, F. (2025), ""Using Fuzzy Synthetic Evaluation (FSE) to assess the sustainability of New Educational Building Designs (NEBDs)"", Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/ECAM-01-2025-0036
  3. Alkhalifa, F. (2024), ""Readiness for transformation towards smart sustainable city models: residents’ perspective"", Smart and Sustainable Built Environment, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/SASBE-05-2024-0178
  4. Shams, D. S., & Alkhalifa, F. (2024). Sustainability assessment of new building designs: a review for a region and occupancy-specific accessible tool. Architectural Engineering and Design Management, 1-20. https://doi.org/10.1080/17452007.2024.2357610
  5. B.Karam and F. Al-khalifa, “Driving strategies to achieve social sustainability in the built environment to facilitate human well-being”, 6th Smart Cities Symposium (SCS 2022), 2022 p. 38 – 43, DOI: 10.1049/icp.2023.0318
  6. Alkhalifa, F. (2020) An approach to define smart sustainable urbanism locally through expert’s perspective. International Journal of Sustainable Building Technology and Urban Development, 12(1), 14-26. https://doi.org/10.22712/susb.20210003
  7. Alkhalifa, F. (2020) ‘Designing smart and sustainable vertical urbanism: a rational for air-use planning in downtown urban areas’. The International Journal of Architectonic, spatial and Environmental Design. 15(1): 57-70. DOI: https://doi.org/10.18848/2325-1662/CGP/v15i01/57-70
  8. Alkhalifa, F. et al (2020) ‘Examining the visual effect of trypophobic repetitive pattern in contemporary urban environments: Bahrain as a case for Middle East countries’. Journal of Architecture and Urbanism. 44(1): 44-51. DOI: 10.3846/jau.2020.11142
  9. Alkhalifa, F. (2019) ‘Achieving Sustainable Urbanism Through Architectural Education: A move back to a learning by doing pedagogy’. The International Journal of Architectonic, spatial and Environmental Design. 13(4): 1-16. DOI: 10.18848/2325-1662/CGP/v13i04/1-16
  10. Alkhalifa, F. (2019) ‘Adaptation of international sustainability rating tools to Bahrain: a comparative analysis of eleven systems’. Archnet-IJAR: International Journal of Architectural Research 13(1): 169-193. DOI:10.1108/ARCH-12-2018-0022
  11. Al khalifa, F. (2018). Bahrain World Trade Center: an Environmental Experimental Design. In S. N. Samman (Ed.), Human Factors and Ergonomics for the Gulf Cooperation Council: Processes, Technologies, and Practices. London & New York: CRC Press. ISBN 9781498781893
  12. Al Khalifa, F. (2018). Hope, utopia, and creativity in higher education: pedagogical tactics for alternative futures. Journal of Higher Education Research & Development. http://doi.org/10.1080/07294360.2018.1467589.
  13. Al Khalifa, F. (2017). Autonomy in Architectural Education: A Bahrain Prespective. Archnet-IJAR: International Journal of Architectural Research, 11(2), 24–33. https://www.archnet.org/publications/12005
  14. Al Khalifa F (2016). Achieving Urban Sustainability in the Island City of Bahrain: University Education, Skilled Labor, and Dependence on Expatriates. Urban Island Studies, 2, 95-120. https://doi.org/10.20958/uis.2016.5
  15. Al Khalifa, F. (2015). Urban Sustainability and Transforming Culture in the Arabian Gulf: The Case of Bahrain (Doctoral dissertation, University of Sheffield).
  16. Al-Khalifa F (2012) An Urban Healing Agenda for Reform in Bahrain: Where the Dweller Falls into the Urban Gap and the Sailing Boat Hits the Skyscraper. University of Sheffield. Winner of the RIBA President's Awards for Research 2013.

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Dr. Fay Abdulla Al Khalifa

Associate Professor

Architecture and Interior Design - Architecture Program
17438088
1-58
fayalkhalifa@uob.edu.bh

Areas of Expertise

  • Executive Leadership
  • Leading Change
  • Architecture and Urbanism
  • Sustainability
  • Cultural Change
  • Smart Sustainable Cities
  • Environmental Social Governance
  • Digital Transformation
  • Compliance
  • Quality Assurance

Education

  • PhD Urban Sustainability and Cultural Change, University of Sheffield, UK, 2015.
  • Master of Conservation and Regeneration, University of Sheffield, UK, 2012.
  • BS.c Architecture, University of Bahrain, Bahrain, 2010.

Biography

Experienced in enabling sustainable organizational change in both the public and private sectors. A Board Member of INVITA Bahrain and the Director of Quality Assurance and Accreditation at the University of Bahrain. Leading cross-organizational teams and playing an active role in maintain quality and assuring compliance. Managing the development of institutional performance and academic excellence.

An Associate Professor holding a Ph.D. in Urban Sustainability and Cultural Change. Published 30+ publications aspiring to contribute to the understanding of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) requirements, Architecture and Urbanism, and Smart Sustainable Cities. Deeply knowledgeable and passionate about developing strategies to communicate and embed sustainability aims and ambitions and improving the effectiveness of ESG reporting. Experienced in ESG reporting frameworks, ISO standards and TCFD and GRI disclosures requirements.

The first Bahraini GRI Certified Sustainability Professional holding a number of professional certificates in sustainability, in addition to being a certified expert in blockchain technologies by the Blockchain Council, a fellow of the British Academy of Higher Education and an Associate of the American Green Building Council.

Won the Golden Lion award for Bahrain with teammates in the Venice Biennially in 2010 and the RIBA’s president’s award in 2012. Also obtained the Emerging Scholar Award in 2018 and the Smart Urbanism Award in 2019. Enabled the university to win the Blackboard Catalyst Award for Leading Change in 2020 and Anthology's Excellence in Innovation Award in 2022.

Chairs the Board of Directors of Bahrain Smart City Society and is a member of the Board of Directors of the Technology and Business Society in Bahrain and the UK Alumni Network of the British Council in Bahrain.

Achievements

  • 2020 Blackboard Catalyst Award for Leading Change (Through Covid-19).
  • 2019 Smart Urbanism Award, Bahrain Smart Cities Summit 2019.
  • 2018 Emerging Scholar Award, the Design Principles and Practices Conference, Barcelona-Spain.
  • 2012 RIBA President’s Award for Outstanding Research: The Best Architecture Masters Thesis in the Uk.
  • 2010 First Prize at the University of Bahrain Senior Projects Competition.
  • 2010 Venice Biennale Golden Lion Award.

Affiliations

  • Academic Committee, University of Bahrain Board of Trustees, 2024-Present
  • Advisory Board Member, Women in Tech, Bahrain Chapter 2023-Present
  • Advisory Board Member, Technology and Business Society in Bahrain 2023-Present
  • Board Member, INVITA Bahrain. 2022-Present
  • Chair of the Board of Directors, Bahrain Smart Cities Society. 2021-Present
  • Board Member, UK Alumni Network Bahrain -British Council-. 2019- Present
  • Board Member, Technology and Business Society in Bahrain. 2021-2023
  • Member, Executive Committee of the Regional Center of ICT (RCICT). 2019-2023
  • Member, Executive Committee of eLearning Officials. 2019-2023
  • in Universities and Higher Education Institutions of the GCC.
  • Other fellowships and memberships with organizations in Bahrain and abroad such as the UK HEA, the AI Group in Bahrain, the U.S. GBC, the AIA, and the Bahrain Society of Engineers.

Grants & Contracts Awarded

Research Funding 140,000$

Publications & Presentations

  1. Alkhalifa, F.A. (2025), Assessing the Predictive Power of LEED Certification on ESG Performance: Limitations and Implications for Holistic Sustainability Measurement. Sustainable Development. https://doi.org/10.1002/sd.3535
  2. Shams, D.S. and Alkhalifa, F. (2025), ""Using Fuzzy Synthetic Evaluation (FSE) to assess the sustainability of New Educational Building Designs (NEBDs)"", Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/ECAM-01-2025-0036
  3. Alkhalifa, F. (2024), ""Readiness for transformation towards smart sustainable city models: residents’ perspective"", Smart and Sustainable Built Environment, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/SASBE-05-2024-0178
  4. Shams, D. S., & Alkhalifa, F. (2024). Sustainability assessment of new building designs: a review for a region and occupancy-specific accessible tool. Architectural Engineering and Design Management, 1-20. https://doi.org/10.1080/17452007.2024.2357610
  5. B.Karam and F. Al-khalifa, “Driving strategies to achieve social sustainability in the built environment to facilitate human well-being”, 6th Smart Cities Symposium (SCS 2022), 2022 p. 38 – 43, DOI: 10.1049/icp.2023.0318
  6. Alkhalifa, F. (2020) An approach to define smart sustainable urbanism locally through expert’s perspective. International Journal of Sustainable Building Technology and Urban Development, 12(1), 14-26. https://doi.org/10.22712/susb.20210003
  7. Alkhalifa, F. (2020) ‘Designing smart and sustainable vertical urbanism: a rational for air-use planning in downtown urban areas’. The International Journal of Architectonic, spatial and Environmental Design. 15(1): 57-70. DOI: https://doi.org/10.18848/2325-1662/CGP/v15i01/57-70
  8. Alkhalifa, F. et al (2020) ‘Examining the visual effect of trypophobic repetitive pattern in contemporary urban environments: Bahrain as a case for Middle East countries’. Journal of Architecture and Urbanism. 44(1): 44-51. DOI: 10.3846/jau.2020.11142
  9. Alkhalifa, F. (2019) ‘Achieving Sustainable Urbanism Through Architectural Education: A move back to a learning by doing pedagogy’. The International Journal of Architectonic, spatial and Environmental Design. 13(4): 1-16. DOI: 10.18848/2325-1662/CGP/v13i04/1-16
  10. Alkhalifa, F. (2019) ‘Adaptation of international sustainability rating tools to Bahrain: a comparative analysis of eleven systems’. Archnet-IJAR: International Journal of Architectural Research 13(1): 169-193. DOI:10.1108/ARCH-12-2018-0022
  11. Al khalifa, F. (2018). Bahrain World Trade Center: an Environmental Experimental Design. In S. N. Samman (Ed.), Human Factors and Ergonomics for the Gulf Cooperation Council: Processes, Technologies, and Practices. London & New York: CRC Press. ISBN 9781498781893
  12. Al Khalifa, F. (2018). Hope, utopia, and creativity in higher education: pedagogical tactics for alternative futures. Journal of Higher Education Research & Development. http://doi.org/10.1080/07294360.2018.1467589.
  13. Al Khalifa, F. (2017). Autonomy in Architectural Education: A Bahrain Prespective. Archnet-IJAR: International Journal of Architectural Research, 11(2), 24–33. https://www.archnet.org/publications/12005
  14. Al Khalifa F (2016). Achieving Urban Sustainability in the Island City of Bahrain: University Education, Skilled Labor, and Dependence on Expatriates. Urban Island Studies, 2, 95-120. https://doi.org/10.20958/uis.2016.5
  15. Al Khalifa, F. (2015). Urban Sustainability and Transforming Culture in the Arabian Gulf: The Case of Bahrain (Doctoral dissertation, University of Sheffield).
  16. Al-Khalifa F (2012) An Urban Healing Agenda for Reform in Bahrain: Where the Dweller Falls into the Urban Gap and the Sailing Boat Hits the Skyscraper. University of Sheffield. Winner of the RIBA President's Awards for Research 2013.

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