AtkinsRéalis Appoints David Kilgour to Drive Abu Dhabi Growth Strategy
AtkinsRéalis has announced the appointment of David Kilgour as Client Development Director for its Buildings & Places division in Abu Dhabi, reinforcing its strategic focus on expanding in one of the region’s fastest-growing markets.
The move comes as Abu Dhabi enters a sustained multi-year growth phase, driven by major masterplans and a robust pipeline of residential, hospitality, and mixed-use developments projected through 2028. This growth is expected to create significant opportunities across the entire project lifecycle.
In his new role, Kilgour will spearhead a more structured and relationship-driven approach to client development. The strategy aims to move beyond opportunity-led engagement, focusing instead on building long-term partnerships, strengthening the project pipeline, improving win rates, and securing new strategic clients across the emirate.
Kilgour brings nearly three decades of experience spanning development, design, and construction. His previous leadership roles include serving as Development Director at Drum Property Group, where he delivered major commercial projects across multiple sectors. His combined experience on both the client and developer sides is expected to support earlier engagement and more commercially aligned partnerships with key stakeholders, including government entities and leading developers in Abu Dhabi.
Commenting on the appointment, Priyesh Vora, Vice President of Strategy and Growth at AtkinsRéalis Middle East, highlighted Abu Dhabi’s importance to the company’s regional ambitions, noting that the addition of Kilgour strengthens its market-facing leadership and enhances its ability to capture emerging opportunities.
Kilgour expressed optimism about his new role, citing Abu Dhabi’s strong development pipeline and the potential to build long-term client relationships while driving a more focused and strategic growth approach.
The appointment underscores AtkinsRéalis’ ongoing commitment to expanding its footprint in Abu Dhabi, positioning the emirate as a key growth engine for its Buildings & Places business across the Middle East.
