24 Years Leading Complex Operations in the UAE & GCC

Nathalie Salame is a seasoned executive with 24+ years of leadership across healthcare, infrastructure, and corporate services in the UAE and GCC.

Known for delivering high-impact turnarounds, she transformed an outpatient unit into a 36-bed inpatient facility in under 6 months, cut insurance rejection rates from 40% to 5%, and scaled a regional workforce from 140 to over 3,000 staff. With deep expertise across HR, finance, compliance, and procurement, she leads complex organizations through regulatory, operational, and structural transformation with precision.

160+

3 Countries

Entities managed across UAE, KSA & Bahrain

Projects delivered in healthcare, infrastructure & MEP

AED 1.2B+

Value of contracts negotiated under her leadership

Academic Excellence & Professional Certifications

A strong foundation in Accounting, Quality Systems, and Operational Compliance.

Bachelor of Applied Accounting & Audit Studies

SSCC Cortbawi – Adma, Lebanon (2001–2004)

Certifications & Professional Qualifications

Advanced Diploma in Commercial & Business Foundations

SSCC Cortbawi – Adma, Lebanon (1999–2001)

• ISO 9001:2015 – Quality Management Systems

• ISO 45001:2018 – Occupational Health & Safety

• BS OHSAS 18001:2007 – Safety Management Systems

• Integrated Management System (IMS) Implementer

PMP® – Project Management Professional (in progress)

Career Timeline

• Scaled the company from 140 to 3,000+ staff by building HR, finance, and admin divisions.

• Negotiated over AED 1.2 billion in contracts across commercial, government, and infrastructure sectors.

• Implemented BS OHSAS 18001 in 2007, laying the foundation for structured safety management.

• Achieved and implemented ISO 9001 certification twice – initially in 2007 and successfully recertified in 2015.

• Achieved and implemented ISO 14001:2015 certification, strengthening occupational health and safety protocols.

• Delivered over 160 MEP and infrastructure projects, including residential, commercial, and utility-based developments.

• Implemented digital procurement and payroll systems, reducing manual workload by 40%.

Negotiated over 60 major contracts valued at AED 1.2 billion with public and private sector clients.

Head of Business & Technical Operations Corporate Services Lead | Director of Administration | Senior Operations Manager

Albonian International – MEP & Infrastructure

2005 – 2021

Finance & Quality Control Specialist

Lebanon | Early Career

2001 – 2005

• Successfully supported ISO accreditation audits, helping one SME achieve first-time certification — the first hospital in Lebanon to be accredited at that time in 2005.

• Streamlined audit documentation processes, improving internal review efficiency by 25%.

• Developed standard operating procedures (SOPs) adopted across three departments.

General Manager / COO – Healthcare Group Director of Clinical Operations | Facility Director

ORPEA Middle East Group

2021 – Present

• Converted an outpatient unit into a 36-bed inpatient rehabilitation facility in under six months.

• Reduced insurance rejection rates from 40% to 5% by standardising case documentation and treatment records.

• Achieved 100% compliance during inspections from DHA, Civil Defense, and MOHRE.

• Implemented ISO-based Integrated Management System to elevate operational standards.

Designed and rolled out KPI frameworks for each department to support executive reporting.

Deputy Director – Technical & Operations

Director of Operations | Head of Technical Services | healthcare Facilities Lead

ORPEA Middle East
2021 – 2022

• Led multidisciplinary team through design, approval, and staffing of new rehabilitation centre.

• Coordinated with DHA and insurance bodies to establish centre recognition and claims readiness.

• Onboarded 7+ insurance providers to enable direct billing and improved admissions capability.

• Developed SOPs and safety frameworks in line with UAE healthcare mandates.

• Provided strategic reporting to board and liaised with global counterparts on investment matters.

• Additional Contributions & Committee Roles:

  • Events & Training: Organised the Multiple Sclerosis Conference 2022 and Annual Seminar on Sports Injury Prevention & Management 2023 (both CME-accredited by DHA); prepared for the event and served on the Training & Education Committee.

  • Industry Representation: Exhibitor, presenter, and construction overseer at Arab Health Exhibition & Congress 2022.

  • Committee Memberships: Member of the Governance & Directorship Committee, Facility Management & Safety Committee, and CARF Accreditation Committee for the center (CARF Champion).