Prof. Dr. Alaa Al-Tamimi
Dr. Alaa Al Tamini
Alaa Mahmoud Al-Tamimi is an Iraqi-Canadian engineer and author known for his expertise in civil engineering and his commitment to knowledge transfer. Born in Baghdad, he pursued advanced studies in Iraq and France before becoming actively involved in the development of his home country. An inspiring professor and recognized expert on international infrastructure projects, he served as mayor of Baghdad during a period of crisis and is known for his ability to raise awareness and mobilize around urban and political issues. Currently based in Canada, he heads the Urban Reform Consultant (URC) firm and shares his expertise through writing, conferences, and teaching.
Timeline
Renaissance
Alaa Mahmoud Al-Tamimi was born in Baghdad in 1952 and grew up between Fallujah and Abu Ghraib.
And Baghdad.
1958-1963: Early Beginnings in Baghdad
He grew up in Baghdad in the late 1950s and early 1960s, in an environment marked by political and social transformation. At that early stage of his life, he attended the Abu Ghraib Mixed Elementary School, where his personality began to crystallize and his first interest in learning and knowledge was revealed.
Those years were the silent seed of promising beginnings, coinciding with an era filled with changes in Iraq, leaving profound impacts on its intellectual and national structure.
1968
High school graduation and entry to the University of Baghdad to study engineering.
1972: Obtained an engineering degree from the University of Baghdad
In 1972, Alaa Mahmoud Al-Tamimi earned an engineering degree from the University of Baghdad, taking his first steps in a career he had long dreamed of, combining a passion for science with a spirit of construction and development. He did not stop at this achievement, but rather continued his academic journey driven by a desire to delve deeper and specialize, earning a Master's degree in Engineering Sciences from the same university in 1979. These formative years formed a solid foundation for his professional career and instilled in him a firm conviction that engineering is not just a science, but a vocation dedicated to serving humanity and developing the nation.
Master's and openness to the world
In 1979, Alaa Mahmoud Al-Tamimi earned a Master's degree in Engineering from the University of Baghdad, continuing to deepen his academic specialization and develop his research tools. During this period, he enjoyed multiple opportunities to gain exposure to international experiences, participating in scientific conferences and training programs in the United Kingdom, Germany, the United States, and Japan.
These academic journeys provided a window into new intellectual and cultural horizons, enriching his professional and human development and reinforcing his conviction that engineering is a global science that intersects with experiences and expertise across borders.
Early 1980s: Postgraduate studies in France amid the storms of war
In the early 1980s, Alaa Mahmoud Al-Tamimi moved to France to pursue his graduate studies in engineering, commuting between Lyon, Rennes, and Paris, as the Iran-Iraq War escalated and cast a heavy shadow over his homeland.
Despite the harsh news coming from Baghdad, this period marked a significant intellectual turning point, as he opened up to an advanced academic environment, learned about modern methods in structural engineering, and practiced scientific research at prestigious institutions. For him, the years in France were a mixture of anxiety and intense learning, preparing him for his future academic and professional achievements.
PhD from Paris and the beginning of the academic career
In 1985, Alaa Mahmoud Al-Tamimi crowned his academic career by obtaining a PhD in structural engineering from Pierre and Marie Curie University (Sorbonne) in Paris, one of the world's most prestigious scientific universities. This achievement was the culmination of years of hard work and research in the heart of the French capital, where he delved deeply into engineering sciences and opened himself up to international academic horizons.
With this prestigious qualification, he returned to Iraq to place his knowledge at the service of his country. In the same year, he began his academic career as a professor at Al-Mustansiriya University and the Military Engineering College in Baghdad, where he contributed to the qualification and training of a generation of engineers, conveying to them his passion for engineering and his firm belief that true construction begins with education.
This phase marked his transformation from student to professor and inspiration, and laid the foundations for an academic career that later extended to universities and educational institutions in several countries.
1987: Director of the Design Department at the Iraqi Atomic Energy Commission
In 1987, Alaa expanded his professional activity by assuming high-level responsibilities in Iraq. He was appointed Director of the Structural Design Office within the Iraqi Atomic Energy Commission, a position he held until 1992. In this role, he was at the heart of strategic national projects, overseeing the robustness and safety of nuclear energy infrastructure. In parallel, he continued his involvement in academia; until 1996, he was a visiting professor at several universities in Baghdad. These parallel assignments reflect his leadership and high level of engineering competence at a national level.
1996: Exile
In 1996, faced with the turmoil in Iraq, Alaa Mahmoud Al-Tamimi made the difficult decision to go into exile. He left his homeland and settled in several cities in the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, and New Zealand, joining his family who had settled there and starting a new life far from his hometown, Baghdad. In this new environment, he rebuilt his professional life and resumed his career as an engineer, adapting to different circumstances while remaining true to his identity and values.
2004 Mayor of Baghdad
In 2004, after nearly ten years of living in Canada, Alaa returned to Iraq with renewed motivation and enthusiasm. He ran for the position of Mayor of Baghdad and won the election, becoming the mayor of the Iraqi capital during a historic transitional period. From 2004 to 2005, he led the city of Baghdad, leveraging his engineering expertise to contribute to reconstruction efforts and improve infrastructure. Although his term was brief, it reflected his deep commitment to serving his country at a critical moment by providing practical solutions to the challenges the city faced in the post-conflict phase.
2006: Return to Canada and establish a consulting firm
In 2006, after concluding his tenure as mayor of Baghdad, Alaa Mahmoud Al-Tamimi returned to Canada to begin a new chapter in his life. Leveraging his years of experience, he founded his own consulting firm in the fields of engineering and urban planning. Through this Ontario-based firm, he offered his expertise to development projects and provided professional training to transfer his knowledge to others.
In the same vein, Alaa authored several technical books in both Arabic and English, sharing his experiences with a wide audience. He also delivered numerous lectures around the world, affirming his role as a bridge for knowledge transfer between cultures and generations. Thus, his return to Canada marked a successful international career combining entrepreneurship, education, and authorship.
Between memory and giving
Since 2006, Alaa Mahmoud Al-Tamimi has continued to lead URC, maintaining his professional passion and commitment to transferring the knowledge he has accumulated over decades. Returning to Canada was not the end of his career, but rather the beginning of a more mature and influential phase, combining consulting, authorship, teaching, and intellectual engagement.
He devotes a large portion of his time to preserving his precious memory of Baghdad, the city that shaped him intellectually and as a person, and he seeks to keep it present in his writings and lectures as an example of challenge and hope.
Through books, articles, and lectures, Al-Tamimi continues to share the essence of his experience with engineers, planners, students, and decision-makers, believing that knowledge is not complete unless it is returned to the people, and that true urbanization begins with an idea and is achieved through will and action.
