Roudabeh Mousavi: Leading Innovative Water Solutions with Vision and Regional Impact

Under her guidance, PACT Engineering currently functions from a 10000-square-meter office with a staff of 200, providing state-of-the-art solutions for major projects, such as Saudi Arabia's Neom project, which harvests and treats seawater to industrial salt, bromine, and other minerals.

How has your journey at PACT Engineering shaped the company’s growth?

PACT Engineering, originally established in 1980 in the United States, expanded to the UAE in 2002, recognizing the region’s strategic potential. From a five-member team, it has grown into a 200-employee organization, leveraging the UAE’s free zones, ports, and diverse talent pool. I’ve been with PACT since 2004, starting in marketing and sales despite a biology background, learning technical aspects, and contributing across sales, operations, and leadership.

PACT specializes in designing and manufacturing water & wastewater treatment systems, evolving from trading to solutions-driven engineering. Two decades ago, water markets were simpler; today, environmental challenges and advanced technologies require constant adaptation. Our R&D, collaborative partnerships, and commitment to tackling challenging projects set us apart, positioning us as leaders in the quest for renewable energy solutions.

Initially, I worked in finance for some time, and I later delegate that role to our professional finance team. My focus shifted to expanding the company, creating opportunities, and motivating the younger generation. This transition led me from CFO to the position, I hold today. Now, as the COO, I focus on growth, innovation, and empowering future leaders in a traditionally male-dominated industry, leading our dedicated 200-member team.

Challenges are constant, but with persistence, mentorship, and a strong team, we always find our way through

What challenges have you faced as a woman leader in water treatment?

The water treatment industry has traditionally been male-dominated. Throughout my career, I worked in environments where men were the majority in both operations and client interactions, which presented challenges, as women often faced barriers to being recognized as equals. Most of our direct correspondents are men, and we often have to communicate with them directly. Working closely with male colleagues, I learned from their focus, determination, and goal-oriented mindset, and consciously mirrored that drive as a professional standard.

Over time, this approach helped me earn respect for my capabilities and leadership, rather than being seen through a gendered lens. I earned that respect through hard work and by understanding our place and potential in the market. Achieving recognition required persistence, but the UAE offered a supportive environment where opportunities are accessible if one navigates the right channels.

Within PACT Engineering, I’m proud to have built a strong female workforce across departments. The women on my team are driven and resilient, and I encourage them to embrace challenges with confidence.

How do you lead a diverse team in a competitive market?

The market is highly competitive, with many international players entering the GCC, and we are also expanding globally. Fortunately, the UAE’s technological advancement and accessibility gives us a strong edge. With high-speed internet, access to global information, and numerous international exhibitions, we stay informed about new technologies and market trends, helping us remain ahead and maintain client trust.

Managing 200 employees has its challenges. especially in human resources. The younger generation

seeks quick results, so I often remind them that success takes time, learning, and collaboration. Our team is highly diverse, with people from various nationalities and backgrounds. Uniting them towards a common goal is a daily challenge I genuinely enjoy.

Why is the Middle East a strategic market for PACT Engineering?

The Middle East is a highly promising market, with vast yet largely untapped resources and a significant freshwater scarcity. A key strength is the proactive approach of government entities, open to partnering with R&D companies to develop innovative water solutions. This fosters collaboration in wastewater treatment, water reuse, and sustainable freshwater management. While the region is known for oil, true “gold” is water, which is vital for industries and daily life.

Mismanagement risks depleting resources and creating unmanageable waste. Despite political and financial fluctuations nearby, the UAE remains a stable, secure business base. This stability, combined with forward-looking government policies, encourages continued investment and growth. The water industry is resilient; regardless of pandemics, oil price shifts, or geopolitical conflicts, water remains indispensable. At PACT Engineering, our mission is to ensure sustainable water access and support the region’s development. No matter what happens, whether oil prices drop, conflicts arise or pandemics occur, people will always need water. That’s our focus: ensuring access to water.

What has been the key to your success over the past two decades?

It has been a long and meaningful journey of 20 years; two decades of hard work and growth. Looking back, I feel proud of how far I’ve come. I’ve always been committed to hard work and learning, sometimes prioritizing my career over family, yet I was fortunate to have a supportive and understanding family, specially my husband, whose patience and encouragement made this possible.

I owe much of my growth to my mentor, our company’s Chairman and Technical Director, Arshak Toufenkjian, who guided me in running operations while understanding the technical and strategic aspects of the business. Learning under his guidance and earning his trust has been invaluable. I’m proud that he trusted me to run the company’s operations and gave me the opportunity to lead from the forefront.

However, none of this would have been possible without a good team. No leader succeeds alone. Without dedicated colleagues and a strong team, success isn’t possible. I am proud to have a passionate, capable team beside me. They are the foundation of everything we’ve achieved, and to me, that is the true measure of success.

Roudabeh Mousavi, Chief Operation Officer, PACT Engineering

Roudabeh Mousavi is the COO of PACT Engineering and has spent more than two decades working in the water and wastewater industry. Beginning with a degree in biology, she joined a very technical, male-oriented field and acquired a wide range of expertise in sales, operations as well as strategic growth within a very short period. She has been instrumental in growing PACT Engineering from a small organization to a 200-strong entity.