Prof. Hamed Assaf

Dean, Professor - Civil Engineering

School of Engineering and Computing

Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering

G 319 A

+971 7 246 8786

hamed.assaf@aurak.ac.ae

Prof. Hamed Assaf is Dean of the School of Engineering at the American University of Ras Al Khaimah (AURAK). He earned his Ph.D. in civil engineering (water resources) from the University of British Columbia in 1991 (QS World University Rankings 2026: #40). Before joining AURAK, he held faculty appointments at the American University of Sharjah and the American University of Beirut, and earlier served as a senior risk analysis and water-resources engineer at BC Hydro, one of Canada’s largest electric utilities.

Prof. Assaf’s research focuses on water-resources management and climate change, including climate-impact assessment, hydroeconomic modeling, disaster risk, groundwater contamination, and life-cycle assessment. He has authored peer-reviewed publications, book chapters, and reports on sustainability, emphasizing the Arab region and climate-adaptation options. He collaborates widely with local, regional, and international partners and has been invited by organizations such as WMO, ESCWA, UNDP, and JICA to contribute as a keynote speaker, panelist, and expert on climate and water issues.

Ph.D. in Civil Engineering (Water Resources), University of British Columbia, November 1991
Bachelor of Civil Engineering (Distinction with class honours), Kuwait University, June 1983

Publications

Assaf, H., and Abu Abdo, A. (2024). Life cycle assessment of incorporating recycled materials in pavement design. Journal of King Saud University - Engineering Sciences. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jksues.2022.04.001
Assaf, H. (2024). “Water Security in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Region”, Chapter 86, in Elgar Encyclopedia of Water Policy, Economics and Management, Phoebe Koundouri and Angelos Alamanos (eds.), Edward Elgar Publishing, UK. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781802202946.00093
Assaf, H. (2023). Hydroeconomic Groundwater Model for Managing Multi-salinity Aquifers in Arid Regions. In: Sherif, M., Singh, V.P., Sefelnasr, A., Abrar, M. (eds) Water Resources Management and Sustainability. Water Science and Technology Library, vol 121. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-24506-0_29
Assaf, H., Idwan, S., Jallad, A. H., Ammari, M. Z. J., Al Chaar, A., & Kouja, M. (2022). Public values regarding an urban mangrove wetland in the United Arab Emirates. Journal of Environmental Engineering and Landscape Management, 30(1), 114-123. https://doi.org/10.3846/jeelm.2022.16333
Assaf, H. (2020) “Assessing policy alternatives and public support for protecting the Ras Al Khaimah Mangroves”. Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi Foundation for Policy Research. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.18502/aqf.0141
Assaf, H. (2019). “Water Security and Climate Change in the Arab Region: Future Outlook”, Chapter 1 in “Climate Change and the Future of Water”, The Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research (ECSSR). ISBN: 978-9948-24-541-4 (paperback). ISBN: 978-9948-24-542-1 (electronic edition).https://www.ecssr.ae/en/publication/climate_change_water/
Assaf, H., Idwan, S. and Farhat, M. (2018), Assessing recycling attitude and behaviour in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE. Journal of Environmental Engineering and Science. https://doi.org/10.1680/jenes.18.00033.
Assaf, H. (2018). "الأمن المائى العربى والتغير المناخى: آفاق مستقبيلة", الفصل الأول فى التغير المناخي ومستقبل المياه, مركز الإمارات للدراسات والبحوث الإستراتيجية, .ECSSR.
Assaf, H. and Mohsen, M. (2017). “Overview of Sustainable Water Management in the MENA Green Industries”. Journal of Desalination and Water Treatment. 79 (87-92). doi:10.5004/dwt.2017.21026. 1944-3994 / 1944-3986.
Assaf, H., Abdel Monem, T., Abed, A., Al Ajjawi, S., Al Mealla, R., Ekram, N., El Karawy, N., Othman, Y., and Tawfic, M. (2016). “Chapter 3: Outlooks and Emerging Issues”, In “GEO-6 Regional Assessment for West Asia.” United Nations Environment Programme, Nairobi, Kenya. ISBN: 978-92-807-3548-2. https://www.unep.org/resources/report/geo-6-global-environment-outlook-regional-assessment-west-asia.
Abed, A., AbuZeid, K., Al Harbi, M., Al Mealla, R., Altaie, W., Assaf, H., Cordeiro, M., Dumble, P., El Karawy, N., El Kholei, A., Glavan, J., Khalil, A., Naser, H., Abdel Aziz, A., Al Ahmad, M., Al Bassam, K., Al Hayek, B., Al Sharif, Y., Arslan, A., Baldwin, R., Burt, J., Byiringiro, F., Eid, E., El Alkamy, H., ElZerey, W., Ghazanfar, S., Grandcourt, E., Jabado, R., Jawad, S., Khalifa, Z., Loughland, R., Nejdawi, R., Othman, Y., Pauli, G., Salem, H., Sattout, E., Warith, M., Abdel Monem, M., Abdulghaffar, N., Dawood, T., Al Khatlan, A., Al Shoala, A., Amasha, A., Awad, H., El Shaer, H., El Tayeb, M., Harhash, K., Hebbelmann, L., Jadam, J., Khalaf, T., Rashed, A., Tawfic, M., and Zalloum, B. (2016). “Chapter 2: State of the Environment and Policy Responses”, In “GEO-6 Regional Assessment for West Asia.” United Nations Environment Programme, Nairobi, Kenya. ISBN: 978-92-807-3548-2. https://www.unep.org/resources/report/geo-6-global-environment-outlook-regional-assessment-west-asia.
Assaf, H. (2015), “Analysis of an Anomalous Flooding Event in the Peace River in Canada”, Nature Environment and Pollution Technology, 14 (3), pp 557-562.
Assaf, H., Erian, W., Gafrej, R. Herrmann, S., McDonnell, R. and Taimeh, A. (2012), “Climate Change Contributes to Water Scarcity”, Chapter 3 of “Adaptation to a Changing Climate in the Arab Countries”, Verner, D. (ed.), Washington, DC: World Bank. DOI:10.1596/978-0-8213-9458-8.
Dababseh, A., Katich, K., Ashwill, M., Assaf, H., Bassioni, H., Carrington, T., Abdel Galil, I. and El Raey, M. (2012), “Climate Change Affects Urban Livelihoods and Living Conditions”, Chapter 5 of “Adaptation to a Changing Climate in the Arab Countries”, Verner, D. (ed.), Washington, DC: World Bank. DOI:10.1596/978-0-8213-9458-8.
Verner, D., Abu Salman, R., Ahmed, K., Assaf, H. , Dababseh, A., Djernaes, M., El-Mallah, F., Erian, W., Gafrej, R., Gitay, H., Grey, S., Habib, R., Christensen, J., Ismail, S., Katich, K., Levine, T., Losos, A., McDonnell, R., Figueroa, G., Noble, I., Fumero, N., Rabie, T., Stendel, M. and Yang, S. "Implement Policy Responses to Increase Climate Resilience." Chapter 9 of “Adaptation to a Changing Climate in the Arab Countries”, Verner, D. (ed.), Washington, DC: World Bank. DOI:10.1596/978-0-8213-9458-8.
Gafrej, R., Gitay, H., Abu Salman, R., Assaf, H., and Osman-Elasha, B. (2012), “Biodiversity and Ecosystem services have a Role in Climate Adaptation”, in “Adaptation to a Changing Climate in the Arab Countries”, Verner, D. (ed.), Washington, DC: World Bank. DOI:10.1596/978-0-8213-9458-8.
Assaf, H. (2011), “Framework for Modeling Mass Disasters”. ASCE Journal of Natural Hazards Review. 12(2): 47- 61. doi:10.1061/(ASCE)NH.1527-6996.0000033.
Assaf, H. (2010), “Water Resources and Climate Change”, Chapter 2 of the Arab Forum for Environment & Development (AFED) report “Water: Sustainable Management of a Scarce Resource”. http://www.afedonline.org/uploads/afed_reports/Full-English-report-2010.pdf
Assaf, H. (2010), “Integrated Water Resources Management”, Chapter 6 of the Arab Forum for Environment & Development (AFED) report “Water: Sustainable Management of a Scarce Resource”. http://www.afedonline.org/uploads/afed_reports/Full-English-report-2010.pdf.
Assaf, H. (2009), “Impact of Climate Change on Infrastructure”, Chapter 9 of the Arab Forum for Environment & Development (AFED) report “Arab Environment: Climate Change Impact on the Arab World”. http://www.afedonline.org/uploads/afed_reports/Full_English_Report2009.pdfCap-Net (2009), “IWRM as a tool for adaptation to Climate Change, Training Manual and Facilitator’s Guide.” International network for Capacity Building in Integrated Water Resources, UNDP.http://www.cap-net.org/training-material/iwrm-as-a-tool-for-adaptation-to-climate-change-english/
Assaf, H. and M. Saadeh (2009). “Geostatistical Assessment of Groundwater Nitrate Contamination with Reflection on DRASTIC Vulnerability Assessment: The Case of the Upper Litani Basin, Lebanon”. Water Resources Management. 23(4): 775-796. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11269-008-9299-8.
Abdulla, F., Eshtwai‡, T. & H. Assaf (2009), “Assessment of the Impact of Potential Climate Change on the Water Balance of a Semi-arid Watershed”. Water Resources Management, 23(10): 2051-2068. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11269-008-9369-y.
Assaf, H. and M. Saadeh (2008), “Assessing water quality management options in the Upper Litani Basin, Lebanon, using an integrated GIS-based decision support system”. Environmental Modelling & Software, 23(10-11): 1327-1337. doi:10.1016/j.envsoft.2008.03.006.
Assaf, H., van Beek, E., Borden, C., Gijsbers, P., Jolma, A., Kaden, S., Kaltofen, M., Labadie, J. W., Loucks, D. P., Quinn, N. W. T., Sieber, J., Sulis, A., Werick, W. J., and Wood, D. M. (2008), “Generic Simulation Models for Facilitating Stakeholder Involvement in Water Resources Planning and Management: A Comparison, Evaluation, and Identification of Future Needs”, Chapter 13 of “Environmental Modelling, Software and Decision Support: state of the art and new perspectives”, Jakeman, A.J., Voinov, A.A., Rizzoli, A.E. and Chen, S.H. (eds), Elsevier series on Developments in Integrated Environmental Assessment. Elsevier Ltd.
Voinov, A., Hood, R.R., Daues, J.D., Assaf, H., and Stewart, R. (2008) “Building a community modelling and information sharing culture”, Chapter 20 of “Environmental Modelling, Software and Decision Support: state of the art and new perspectives”, Jakeman, A.J., Voinov, A.A., Rizzoli, A.E. and Chen, S.H. (eds), Elsevier series on Developments in Integrated Environmental Assessment. Elsevier Ltd.
Crout, N., Kokkonen, T., Jakeman, A., Anderson, R., Assaf, H., Croke, B., Gaber, N., Gibbons, J., Holzworth, D., Mysiak, J., Reichl, J., Seppelt, R., Wagener, T. and Whitfield, P. (2008), “Good modelling practice”, Chapter 2 of “Environmental Modelling, Software and Decision Support: state of the art and new perspectives”, Jakeman, A.J., Voinov, A.A., Rizzoli, A.E. and Chen, S.H. (eds), Elsevier series on Developments in Integrated Environmental Assessment. Elsevier Ltd.
McIntosh, B.S., Giupponi, C., Smith, C., Voinov, A., Matthews, K.B., Monticino, M., Kolkman, M.J., Crossman, N., Ittersum, M. van, Haase, D., Haase, A., Mysiak, J., Groot, J.C.J., Sieber, S., Verweij, P., Quinn, N., Waeger, P., Gaber, N., Hepting, D., Scholten, H., Sulis, A., van Delden, H., Gaddis, E., and Assaf, H.(2008), ”Bridging the gaps between design and use: developing tools to support management and policy”, Chapter 3 of “Environmental Modelling, Software and Decision Support: state of the art and new perspectives”, Jakeman, A.J., Voinov, A.A., Rizzoli, A.E. and Chen, S.H. (eds), Elsevier series on Developments in Integrated Environmental Assessment. Elsevier Ltd.
Assaf, Hamed (2007) ‘‘An Empirical Model of Fatalities and Injuries Due to Floods in Japan’’ by Guofang Zhai, Teruki Fukuzono, and Saburo Ikeda (Paper published in August 2006 issue). Journal of the American Water Resources Association 43(5): 1344–1346. doi:10.1111/j.1752-1688.2007.00109.x.
Assaf, Hamed (2007) “Development of an Energy-budget Snowmelt Updating Model for Incorporating Feedback from Snow Course Survey Measurements”. Journal of Engineering, Computing and Architecture, 1(1).
Lind, Niels, Desmond Hartford, and Hamed Assaf (2004) “Hydrodynamic Models of Human Stability in a Flood”, Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) 40(1): 89-96. doi: 10.1111/j.1752-1688.2004.tb01012.x
Assaf, Hamed and M.C. Quick (1991), “Updating Hydrological Model Forecasts”. Canadian Journal of Civil Engineering, 18(4), 663-674.
Assaf, Hamed (1991), “Real-time Flow Forecasting”, Ph.D. Thesis, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. https://open.library.ubc.ca/soa/cIRcle/collections/ubctheses/831/items/1.0050452

CIEN 251 (Fluid Mechanics)
CIEN 301 (Numerical Analysis)
CIEN 352 (Environmental Engineering)
CIEN 457 (Water Resources Sustainability)
ENGR 210 (Sustainability in Engineering

Last Updated: 13 Sep 2026