Melia Abs

Melia brings over a decade of experience in architecture and business development across the UAE’s construction sector.  As Business Development Manager at Compass, she combines her architectural design background with commercial expertise to drive growth across residential, healthcare, hospitality, and commercial markets.

Having transitioned from architecture and design management into business development, Melia understands the value of diverse perspectives in creating better client outcomes. Her architectural foundation provides unique insight into how inclusive design thinking and varied viewpoints enhance project delivery, while her eight years based in Dubai have given her deep understanding of building trusted relationships with developers, consultants, and corporates across the region’s multicultural landscape.

Melia has built her career on the belief that diversity in teams leads to stronger innovation and better client engagement.  She has seen firsthand how inclusive approaches to business development and project delivery create competitive advantages, fostering environments where different perspectives are valued and leveraged to exceed client expectations.

As someone who has successfully navigated the transition from technical design roles to commercial leadership, Melia is passionate about supporting others in the industry and demonstrating how diverse career paths and backgrounds strengthen the construction sector.  She advocates for creating opportunities where all professionals can contribute their unique strengths to drive industry excellence.