Dr. Mohammed Alnahhal

Dr. Mohammed Alnahhal is an Associate Professor of Industrial Engineering at the American University of Ras Al Khaimah (AURAK), a position he was promoted to in 2023 after first joining the university as an Assistant Professor in 2019. A results-driven academic with a PhD (magna cum laude) from the University of Duisburg-Essen in Germany, he brings a unique blend of academic, industrial, and research experience gained from pivotal roles in Palestine, Germany, and the UAE.

His core expertise lies in leveraging advanced analytical techniques, such as simulation, operations research, and data analytics, to address complex challenges in supply chain management and logistics. He has authored more than 44 publications on topics ranging from in-plant material flow to sustainable practices in Industry 4.0.

Dr. Alnahhal’s extensive international background includes serving as a Research Fellow at the Deggendorf Institute of Technology in Germany for over two and a half years, where he worked on industry-driven projects in supply chain optimization and big data. Earlier in his career, he spent three years in Palestine as a Lecturer, Teaching Assistant, and Lab Supervisor.

Following his doctoral studies, Dr. Alnahhal worked in Germany as a supply chain consultant, gaining valuable practical insights that he now integrates into his teaching and research. He is passionate about educating future engineers, having designed and taught more than 22 courses and supervised numerous graduate theses, all while maintaining a strong research agenda focused on innovation and real-world application.

• PhD. in Industrial Engineering(Transportation and Logistics Systems)
  University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany (2015)
  Thesis: Efficient Material Flow in Mixed Model Assembly Lines
• M.Sc. in Industrial Engineering and Management University of Jordan, Jordan (2010)
  Thesis: The Impact of Applying Project Management Best Practices on the Success of Construction Projects in Jordan
• B.Sc. in Industrial Engineering Islamic University of Gaza, Palestine (2005)
  Thesis / Graduation Project: Optimizing Routing of Municipal Solid Waste Collection Vehicles in Gaza Strip

Research Interests:

My research focuses on optimizing complex systems within industrial engineering, primarily through the development and application of data-driven analytical models, simulation, and computational intelligence. My work is organized around three interconnected pillars:

• Supply Chain & Logistics Optimization:Designing efficient models for in-plant logistics, warehouse management, vehicle routing, and sustainable supply chain design.
• Data Analytics & Decision-Making:Leveraging machine learning, big data, and operations research techniques for forecasting, risk analysis, and improving operational performance in Industry 4.0 environments.
• Project Management & Quality Systems:Investigating best practices, digital transformation, and quality management frameworks that enhance the success and sustainability of engineering projects.

1. Alnahhal, M., Tabash, M. I., Safi, S. K., Al-Absy, M. S. M., & Mamadiyarov, Z. (2026). A Comparative Study of Imbalance-Handling Methods in Multiclass Predictive Maintenance. Computation, 14(4), 88.
2. Almazrouei, M., & Alnahhal, M. (2026). Transformational leadership and employee performance in UAE public sector: the role of digital transformation and agility. International Journal of Public Leadership, 22(2), 147-169. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPL-06-2025-0094
3. Tabash, M. I., Issa, S. S., Alnahhal, M., Mamadiyarov, Z., & Drachal, K. (2026). Time-Varying Global Financial Stress Contagion in a Decade of Trade Wars and Geopolitical Fractures. Risks, 14(3), 70.
4. Tabash, M. I., Issa, S. S., Shaheen, L. M., Alnahhal, M., & Mamadiyarov, Z. (2026). Quantile Domain Connectedness Between Climate Risks and Cryptocurrency Classes. Risks, 14(4), 93.
5. Tabash, M. I., Farooq, U., Alnahhal, M., Elrefae, G. A., & Belarbi, A. (2026, April 28–29). Does digital inclusion foster sustainable development? The mediating role of governance. The International Conference on Smart Management, Green Technologies, and Entrepreneurial Ecosystems (ICSGTEE'2026), Al Ain University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.
6. Tabash, M. I., Anagreh, S., Issa, S. S., Mamadiyarov, Z., Alnahhal, M., & Prestianawati, S. A. (2026). The dynamic frequency-based shock transmission between Bitcoin investors’ emotions and U.S. sectoral stock conditional volatility: Assessing the optimal weightage of Bitcoin returns in a U.S. sectoral stock return portfolio. Cogent Economics & Finance, 14(1), Article 2676346.
7. Tabash, M. I., Farooq, U., Issa, S. S., Alnahhal, M., Prestianawati, S. A., & Varma, M. (2025). Empirical assessment of digital transformation and renewable energy adoption in the Middle East. Discover Sustainability, 6(1), 1-20.‏
8. Alnahhal, M., Saleem, W., & Salah, B. (2024). The Impact of Emerging Technologies of Industry 4.0 on Sustainability Dimensions. Journal of Engineering Research.‏ https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jer.2024.07.023
9. Alnahhal, M., Aylak, B. L., Al Hazza, M., & Sakhrieh, A. (2024). Economic Order Quantity: A State-of-the-Art in the Era of Uncertain Supply Chains. Sustainability, 16(14), 5965.
10. Alnahhal, M., Alali, H., & Alshamsi, R. (2024). The Effect of ChatGPT on Education in the UAE. International Journal of Emerging Technologies in Learning, 19(6), 1-14
11. Alnahhal, M., Gjeldum, N., & Ruzayqat, M. (2024). Efficient Material Flow and Storage Space Determination in Automated Distribution Centers. Journal of Engineering, 2024(1), 9913723.
12. Alnahhal, M., Aldhuhoori, E., Ahmad Al-Omari, M., & Tabash, M. I. (2024). The impact of pricing on consumer buying behavior in the UAE. Cogent Business & Management, 11(1), 2300159.‏
13. Alnahhal, M., Antar, O., Sakhrieh, A., & Al Hazza, M. (2024). Analyzing Energy Consumption in Universities: A Literature Review. International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, 14(3), 18-27.‏
14. Issa, S. S., Tabash, M. I., Ahmed, A., Riyadh, H. A., Alnahhal, M., & Varma, M. (2024). Investigating the Relationship between Energy Consumption and Environmental Degradation with the Moderating Influence of Technological Innovation. Journal of Risk and Financial Management, 17(9), 419.‏
15. Alnahhal, M., Gjeldum, N., & Salah, B. (2023). Optimal Scheduling of Rainwater Collection Vehicles: Mixed Integer Programming and Genetic Algorithms. Sustainability, 15(12), 9252.‏
16. Al Hazza, M. H., Muqtadar, M., El Salamony, K., Bourini, I. F., Sakhrieh, A., & Alnahhal, M. (2023). Investigation Study of the Challenges in Green Procurement Implementation in Construction Projects in UAE. Civil Engineering Journal, 9(4), 849-859.‏
17. Al Hazza, M. Kaddoura, A., El Jammal, A., Abu Sido, S., Khalifa, M., Sakhrieh, A., Alnahhal, M. (2023), Quality Function Deployment Implementation in Designing a New 3D Printer Filament Extruder. The International Conference on Sustainable Engineering (CSE 2023) 20 – 23 September 2023, ASU, Amman, Jordan
18. Salah, B., Alnahhal, M., & Ali, M. (2023). Risk prioritization using a modified FMEA analysis in industry 4.0. Journal of Engineering Research, 11(4), 460-468.
19. Tabash, M. I., Alnahhal, M., & Bagheri, N. (2023). Islamic financial institutions performance pre-and post-global financial crisis 2007/2008: empirical insights from Gulf Cooperation Council. International Journal of Business and Systems Research, 17(1), 27-43.‏
20. Alnahhal, M., Salah, B., & Ruzayqat, M. (2022). An Efficient Approach to Investigate the Tradeoff between Double Handling and Needed Capacity in Automated Distribution Centers. Sustainability, 14(13), 7678.
21. Aldhuhoori, R., Almazrouei, K., Sakhrieh A., Al Hazza M., Alnahhal M. (2022). The Effects of Recruitment, Selection, and Training Practices on Employee Performance in the Construction and Related Industries, Civil Engineering Journal, 8 (12), 3831- 3841.
22. Alnahhal, M.; Salah, B.; Ahmad, R (2022). Increasing Throughput in Warehouses: The Effect of Storage Reallocation and the Location of Input/Output Station. Sustainability, 14, 4611.
23. Salah, B., Alnahhal, M., & Ahmad, R. (2022). Automated Stacker Cranes: A Two-Step Storage Reallocation Process for Enhanced Service Efficiency. Processes, 10(1), 2.
24. Alnahhal, M., Alshehhi, Q., Sakhrieh, A., Altawil S., and Tabash, M. I. (2022). Impact of integration management on performance in the UAE. Problems and Perspectives in Management, 20(1), 58-68. doi:10.21511/ppm.20(1).2022.06
25. Balhasan, S., Alnahhal, M., Shawan, S., Salah, B., Saleem, W., & Tabash, M. I. (2022). Optimization of Exploration and Production Sharing Agreements Using the Maxi-Min and Nash Solutions. Energies, 15(23), 8970.
26. Balhasan, S., Alnahhal, M., Towler, B., Salah, B., Ruzayqat, M., & Tabash, M. I. (2022). Robust Exploration and Production Sharing Agreements Using the Taguchi Method. Energies, 15(15), 5424.‏
27. Alnahhal, M.; Ahrens, D.; Salah, B. (2021), Optimizing Inventory Replenishment for Seasonal Demand with Discrete Delivery Times. Applied Sciences, 11(23), 11210. https://doi.org/10.3390/app112311210.
28. Alnahhal, M.; Ahrens, D.; Salah, B. (2021). Modeling Freight Consolidation in a Make‐To‐Order Supply Chain: A Simulation Approach. Processes, 9, 1554.
29. Alnahhal, M., Tabash, M. I., & Ahrens, D. (2021). Optimal selection of third-party logistics providers using integer programming: a case study of a furniture company storage and distribution. Annals of Operations Research, (302), 1-22.
30. Alnahhal, M., Ahrens, D., & Salah, B. (2021). Dynamic Lead-Time Forecasting Using Machine Learning in a Make-to-Order Supply Chain. Applied Sciences, 11(21), 10105.
31. Alnahhal, M., Al Zaabi, F., Al Shehhi, N., Al Shehhi, M., Sakhrieh, A. and Al Hazza, M. (2021). Green supply chain management in the UAE construction industry, Indian Journal of Economics and Business, 20(2), 43-56
32. Soumar, B. Alnahhal, M. Al Hazza, M., Sakhrieh, A., Tabash, M. I. (2021). Factors motivating governmental employees in the United Arab Emirates. Problems and Perspectives in Management, 19(4), 248- 257. doi:10.21511/ppm.19(4).2021.20
33. AlShehhi, N., AlZaabi, F., Alnahhal, M., Sakhrieh, A., Tabash. M., (2021). The effect of organizational culture on the performance of UAE organizations. Cogent Business & Management, 8(1), 1980934, DOI: 10.1080/23311975.2021.198093
34. Almemari, K. Almazrouei, R. Alnahhal, M. (2021). The impact of green human resource management on the sustainable performance of the manufacturing companies in the UAE. Journal of southwest Jiaotong University. 56(4), 436-447
35. Farooq, U., Tabash, M. I., Anagreh, S., Alnahhal, M. (2021). Assessing the Impact of COVID-19 on Corporate Investment Behavior. Emerging Science Journal, 5, 130- 140
36. AlZaabi, Fatima, Maryam AlShehhi, Noora AlShehhi, Ranya Wadi, Ruqayya Alhebsi, Muataz Hazza Al Hazza, Mohammed Alnahhal, and Ahmad Sakhrieh (2021). An Investigation Study of Challenges in the Transition from Traditional to Virtual Teamwork During COVID-19 in UAE Organisations. International Journal of Innovation, Creativity and Change,15(5), 455-468
37. Al Shehhi, A., Al Hazza, M., Alnahhal, M., Sakhrieh, A., & Al Zarooni, M. (2021). Challenges and Barriers for Renewable Energy Implementation in the United Arab Emirates: Empirical Study. International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, 11(1), 158-164.
38. Al Safarini N., Hasan A., Sakhrieh A., Alnahhal M., Al Hazza M. (2021). Crucial role of efficient communication on construction projects progress, deliverables and conflicts reduction in the United Arab Emirates. Polish journal of management studies, 23(1), 9-22
39. Alnahhal, M., & Ahrens, D. (2018). A simulation-based system for calculating optimal numbers of forklift drivers in industrial plants. Bavarian Journal of Applied Sciences, 4, 354- 369.
40. Alnahhal, M., & Noche, B. (2015). Dynamic material flow control in mixed model assembly lines. Computers & Industrial Engineering, 85, 110-119.
41. Alnahhal, M., & Noche, B. (2015). A genetic algorithm for supermarket location problem. Assembly Automation, 35(1), 122 – 127.
42. Alnahhal, M., Ridwan, A., & Noche, B. (2014). “In-plant milk run decision problems”. IEEE International Conference on Logistics and Operations Management (GOL) (pp. 85-92).
43. Alnahhal, M., & Noche, B. (2014). “Capacity planning in in–plant milk run system”. International Journal of Service and Computing Oriented Manufacturing, 1(3), 197-210.
44. Alnahhal M., Ramadan M., Noche B. (2014) “Static Versus Dynamic Control of Material Flow in In-Plant Milk Run System” 4th International Conference on Dynamics in Logistics, Bremen/Germany
45. Ramadan M., Alnahhal M., Noche B. (2014) “RFID- enabled Real-time Dynamic Operations and Material Flow Control in Lean Manufacturing” 4th International Conference on Dynamics in Logistics, Bremen/Germany
46. Agha, M. S., Alnahhal, M. J., Agha, S. R., & Alafeefy, A. S. (2014). Industrial Sectors Eligibility for Rehabilitation Programs: An Integrated AHP–TODIM Approach. International Journal of Strategic Decision Sciences (IJSDS), 5(1), 95-110.
47. Alnahhal, M., & Noche, B. (2013). Efficient material flow in mixed model assembly lines. SpringerPlus journal, 2(1), 415.
48. Agha, S. R., & Alnahhal, M. J. (2012). Neural network and multiple linear regression to predict school children dimensions for ergonomic school furniture design. Applied ergonomics, 43(6), 979-984.
49. Abbasi, Gh. S., Alnahhal, M., A. (2012) Neural Network Model for Predicting Budget Performance of Construction Projects in Jordan, International Journal of Construction Project Management, 4 (1), 75-86
50. Abbasi, Gh. S., Alnahhal, M. J. (2011) Contractors View of Project Management Best Practices in the Jordanian Construction Sector, International Journal of Construction Project Management, 3 (2), 159- 175

Graduate Courses (M.Sc. in Engineering Project Management):

• MEPM 542 Supply chain management for project managers,
• MEPM 516 Project Quality Management,
• MEPM 531 Operation Research,
• MEPM 532 Engineering Management,
• MEPM 551 Project management fundamentals,
• MEPM 514 Global project management,
• MEPM 513 Project Implementation and performance,
• MEPM 523 Direct research,
• MEPM 519 Field application project,
• MEPM 533 Information Systems for Project Management,
• MEPM 590 Thesis I, and
• MEPM 591 Thesis II

• IENG 421 Production planning and control,
• IENG 427 Simulation,
• IENG 424 Time and motion study,
• IENG 423 Total Quality Management,
• IENG 430 Supply chain management,
• IENG 422 Facility planning,
• IENG 428 Operations Research II,
• IENG 441 Design of Experiments,
• IENG 425 Project management,
• ENGR 200 Engineering Statistics,
• CIEN 440 Infrastructure Financing, and
• ARCH 487 Project Management