Prof. Mohammad Abu Zahra is a global expert in carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS), decarbonization and clean energy, with over 20 years of experience in research, industry, and policy development. He currently serves as the Head of the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region at the Global CCS Institute, where he leads efforts to accelerate the deployment of large-scale CCUS projects and supports governments and industries in developing carbon management strategies.

Prof. Abu Zahra is also a member of the United Nations Council of Engineers for the Energy Transition (UN CEET), an independent advisory body to the UN Secretary-General that provides technical expertise to advance global net-zero goals. His contributions to the UN CEET are aimed at shaping international policies on carbon management and sustainable energy solutions.

Prior to joining the Global CCS Institute, Prof. Abu Zahra served as a faculty member at Masdar Institute and Khalifa University from 2011 to 2022, where he established the first research group in the Middle East and North Africa dedicated to carbon capture technologies and co-founded the RICH Center (Research and Innovation Center on CO₂ and Hydrogen), a multidisciplinary hub for advancing carbon and hydrogen technologies. During his academic tenure, he supervised over 30 MSc and PhD students, published more than 150 peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, and technical papers, and delivered over 250 presentations at high-level local and international conferences.