Cyril Piaia

Cyril Piaia is a well-known executive in the tourism and development sector in Oman, bringing more than 20 years of experience in engineering, strategy, finance, and business management skills. He holds a Bachelor's in Science from Lycée Thiers, France, and a Master's in Engineering from Ecole Centrale, Lille, France, both graduated with honors. He joined Emaar, The Economic City as CEO in 2021, where he oversaw the development of King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC) as an integrated platform for investment and business, positioned as a leading destination for housing, tourism and entertainment.

Career history

• CEO of Emaar, The Economic City (September 2021 – August 2024)
• Managing Partner and Founder at Stratford & Russell (prior to 2021)
• CEO of Musstir Group in Oman
• CEO of Orascom Development
• Senior Manager at Arthur Andersen in Paris, leading the firm's European practice for hospitality, real estate, travel, and tourism

During his tenure at Musstir, Piaia worked previously at Muriya Tourism Development Company, a joint venture between Orascom Development and Oman Tourism Development Company (OMRAN) focused on developing the four largest international trade center projects in Oman. At Arthur Andersen, he was based in Paris and specialized in strategy and corporate finance.

What Cyril Piaia could bring to a new role: Piaia's extensive background spanning two decades in master-planning major economic cities, mixed-use developments, and hospitality transformation positions him as a strategic leader for complex real estate and infrastructure projects. His experience navigating stakeholder relationships with international investors, public-private partnerships (including welcoming the Saudi Public Investment Fund as a 25% shareholder at KAEC), and regional economic diversification initiatives—particularly aligned with Vision 2030 objectives—would strengthen organizational capability in market development and strategic positioning across emerging markets.