Steven Nasser is the Chief Technology Officer for SABER Investment Company L.L.C., a locally owned company holding a diverse portfolio of products and services anchored around its long-standing expertise in manufacturing and engineering since 1976. In his role, he manages the company’s strategic growth and key partnerships with a global network of technology vendors and manages the company’s IT infrastructure implementing innovations in cloud computing (leveraging SAAS models), application-driven operations, and software automation. Steven leverages the dynamic manufacturing and experienced engineering platform of SABER’s group of companies towards projects in defense, aerospace, automation, transportation and integrated intelligence.
He is the Chairman of the IRF MENA Committee and the Chairman of the ITS Committee. When outlining the technology paradigm shift taking place in digital roads, sustainable infrastructure, and automated vehicles, Steven looks to collaborate with all stakeholders from the private, public and education sectors. Through the expanded platform of the IRF, Steven works to bring best practice methodologies and create state-of-the-art benchmarks for the region. Such platform includes integrating experts from AI/ML, Cybersecurity, C-ITS, Automated Transportation and Mobility-as-a-Service. He believes that to optimize infrastructure and build future roads networks we need an all ‘inclusive’ hands-on approach.
Recently, with the help of the management team of IRF Global, under his leadership, he created five subcommittees within the IRF MENA Committee: Road Safety, V2X, ITS, Sustainability and Sustainable Pavements. Each subcommittee is chaired by dedicated, experienced and skilled professionals from the Roads and Infrastructure Industries. The goal is to generate roadmaps and objectives within the MENA Committee that are specifically focused on creating customized solutions against the ever-growing challenges in the region.
Steven was responsible for spinning off a technology entity, IKARIS, within SABER that focused on system integration and customized ‘smart’ solutions towards technology transformation. The entity is responsible for deploying solutions geared towards smart cities and smart infrastructure. Within such a role, Steven managed deliverables for government road, traffic and highway authorities like Abu Dhabi ITC, Department of Municipalities and Transport, Dubai RTA and Abu Dhabi Police.
When executing key projects, Steven looks to collaborate with all stakeholders to bring in innovative technologies to the region. He has deep insight and experience in bringing breakthrough technologies to the market. The entity brought about innovations like Smart Parking for Majid Al Futtaim and Integrated Smart Gantry for Abu Dhabi Police.
He is quick to understand the requirements of the client and in translating the requirements into value and revenue generation to the technology vendor. In the defense sector, he works closely with key defense companies, bringing business opportunities to fruition. Working closely with their corresponding business units and assigned government agencies, Steven is responsible for aligning offset requirements against key technological innovations needed in the defense sector roadmap that meet Abu Dhabi vision and milestones. Such engagements have generated multi-million-dollar contracts for the defense companies. To date, Steven continues to explore and nurture such collaborations. He sits as a Board of Advisor for the Defense Securities Marketing Council and works closely with the Tawazun Council for Defense Enablement.
Steven recently joined as Board of Advisor to two companies in the Mobility and Sustainable Infrastructure space: MobilityVision and SustainInsight. His role in both companies is to help advise and support the vision and mission of the CEO. Within his role he engages with different stakeholders looking to learn and adapt to the growing innovative solutions offered by both companies. He also works closely with a few AI technologies in the Healthcare, Education, Logistics and Defense space.
Steven has also become a member of American Chamber of Commerce, Abu Dhabi
Within his position he has joined the US-UAE Government Affairs Committee and Aerospace and Defense Committee. His expertise and background in mobility makes him a key advisor supporting autonomous initiatives between the US and UAE.
Today, Steven is a driving force and strategic executioner of the future mobility roadmap and what smart cities of tomorrow will look like. Working to address and integrate with all paradigm shifts taking place in technologies across Agentic AI, EV, AV, and Smart Cities.
What have been your top career successes?
Throughout my professional working career, I have been both pivotal and strategic in taking decisions towards future paradigm shifts and transformational changes in the business landscape.
As an Innovation Officer, I was the first to transform the paradigm of parking management from infrared-based/ultrasonic-based to camera-based parking. Seeing that the future was going to be data driven, malls and other commercial real estate assets can monetize on the parking space better and build unique customer experiences based on customer profiles.
As a technology Officer, I was the first to partner with Microsoft on deploying Office 365 in the region and envisioned the future of IT to be SAAS model centric so that employees and officers can access their content without having to travel with their computers and laptops. Building an IT strategy leveraging this model, allowed for a team of software engineers reporting to me to build specific in-house business automation tools.
As Altair Advisory CEO, I am working with companies worldwide, specifically from US and Europe, to bring disruptive key innovations delivering superior solutions to the future of autonomous mobility, AI/Digital Twin and quantum computing. I ork closely with technologists to customize their solutions for the local and global region.
Tell us about your company, Altair Advisory LLC.
As a veteran of many verticals, and an executive that continues to work in settings that require that unique hybrid skillset of business and technical adaptability, in my role at Altair Advisory, I can leverage this skillset to help international companies worldwide.
Today, I meet with companies from emerging verticals and translate their strategic roadmap into a plan that fits the directional and visionary roadmap of the UAE government and even GCC region.
Within my position, working with distinguished organizations, I am tasked with the duty to enable these key strategic partnerships and drive the creation of technological innovations and robust solutions for a growing dynamic transformational landscape.
Within the disruptive innovations of Agentic AI, autonomous mobility and transportation, quantum computing and others, there are many challenges that can be addressed with such superior solutions and capabilities. However, success lies in the ability to gather stakeholders and bring together parties so that business and technical alignment can be reached before a project can be discussed or even created.
As the sole owner and CEO of Altair Advisory LLC, I bring years of experience and skill leading this initiative to great success and insight.
What is your company mission?
Altair Advisory LLC’s mission is simple. We are not about representing a portfolio of companies and technology solutions; and then selling this basked of goods. We are about problem solving and specifically addressing the challenges from the ‘ground up’. We listen. We understand. We study and research. We communicate. We deliver.
What services do you offer?
Altair Advisory is an advisory company and offers the service of advisory strategic road mapping for companies wanting to establish themselves in the region. With my background and experience in brokering strategic partnerships, manufacturing, system integration, software development and localization/supply chain; Altair is able to support, almost agnostically, any vertical industry wanting to make a power play in the region with a winning deck and hand.
What interesting projects are you currently involved in?
I am involved with a couple of projects in the verticals I represent. However, one project that I am particularly interested in is called A.N.T. ANT stands for autonomous nimble transportation, and it has both a defense and civil application.
The technology solution combines the paradigm of drones with the advancement taking place in unmanned ground vehicles. Furthermore, it’s called ANT because its borrows some of its behaviour as the ANT (insect that is). The strength of the ANT comes as a fleet (or sometimes referred to as a swarm).
The ANT will be functional as a logistics, surveillance and communicating unit
Given its speed (EV based with a powerful electric motor), weight (graphene based) and flexibility (agnostic platform to include any payload) the ANT is able to get to engage swiftly to get to its destination and execute a mission.
The other project that I am involved with, which I am also passionate about, is with Manta Aircraft. Manta Aircraft brings design, technology and know-how in hybrid propulsion systems. This form of power can drive any vehicular platform and not just the advanced air mobility platform and system of Manta Aircraft. Within their engagement with Khalifa University, they provide R&D potential in advanced flight simulator systems and human machine interface. Such capabilities can be integrated into any air mobility platform. We have signed an MoU between Manta Aircraft and Abu Dhabi Mobility.
These two are one of many projects that I am engaged in.
What emerging trends do you see in the industry?
Today, everywhere you look the industry you see disrupted transformational irreversible forces at work. With the onset of Agentic Ai, morphed from generative AI, we see machines emulating the human function and taking over work that is typically managed by human capital.
For example, in the defense industry, we see drone-like platforms and hybrid systems being developed as alternative to security. The advancement of neural networks and programmed AI algorithms into defense platforms is changing the landscape so that software and programming become the ‘enhanced power and capability’.
For road safety and security, and a growing digital connectivity era, driver distractions coupled with driver fatigue have made the roads ever more dangerous (and somewhat fatal). This is increasing the need to change the paradigm of driving to Mobility-As-A-Service and so drive proactively and aggressively the future of autonomous mobility. This paradigm is bringing changes to the sea, air and land.
And, as we face this AI race all over that is affecting everything from civil to defense applications; furthermore, demanding the need for power and energy, we are tasked with the responsibility to find this excessive power reserves. And, even come up with new ways of working (i.e. data centers in space).
I think that while the future ahead is both exciting, challenging and somewhat nurturing (the need to adapt and learn new skillsets), we need to be cognizant and wary of the responsibility and accountability we hold with such power.
What is your vision for the company?
As an Innovation Officer and Technology Officer, I realized that my drive to build and create solutions; one that will disrupt and bring about transformational change, is my passion.
Altair does not want to only enable these ecosystems but aims to become a contributor and main player in making them successful. First, by ensuring that the strategic alignment continues to be with that of the UAE and GCC region. This includes strengthening the resilience of local supply chain and ecosystem, creating jobs and opportunity for leaning and growth. Second, by ensuring that the solutions Altair brings provide robust lasting value.
How are you giving back?
As board advisor, I work closely with the executives of the company and support the alignment of their strategy against the verticals for which I possess industry expertise, insight and hands-on experience.
We meet once a month and discuss any pending issues including upcoming features or enhancements in the product solution. I also help introduce the companies to key stakeholders and support in company presentations and pitches.
What upcoming panels and conferences are you involved in?
If you check out my LinkedIn profile (both Shafik Nasser/Steven Nasser),you will see that I continue to take part in many conferences and panel discussions in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Saudi: UMEX, DRIFTX, EVIS, Emerge, etc.