Ooredoo Maldives Gets New CEO as Shadi Qawasmi Takes the Helm, Succeeding Khalid Al-Hamadi

Ooredoo Q.P.S.C. has announced the appointment of Shadi Qawasmi as the new Chief Executive Officer of Ooredoo Maldives, effective 1st February 2026, as the telecommunications group continues to strengthen its leadership across its regional operations.

Shadi Qawasmi steps into the role succeeding Khalid Al-Hamadi, who moves on to take up a new position within the broader Ooredoo Group, carrying with him a remarkable legacy of transformation and achievement at Ooredoo Maldives.

A Transformative Era Under Khalid Al-Hamadi

Khalid Al-Hamadi joined Ooredoo in 2008 and built an impressive career across multiple senior leadership roles within the group, including serving as a Board Director at Ooredoo Maldives from 2017 to 2021. Appointed Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Ooredoo Maldives in 2022, Khalid led one of the most impactful and accelerated periods of digital transformation in the company's history. Under his leadership, Ooredoo Maldives expanded 5G coverage to 60% of the population, extended broadband connectivity to more islands across the archipelago, and deployed a new submarine cable to significantly strengthen both national and international connectivity. His tenure was crowned with global recognition, including a prestigious Guinness World Record, a testament to the extraordinary milestones achieved during his time at the helm.

Shadi Qawasmi: A Commercially Driven Leader

Shadi Qawasmi brings to the role more than a decade of commercially driven leadership experience across the telecommunications sector. He joined Ooredoo Palestine in 2015 and progressed through several senior positions within the organisation, most recently serving as Chief Commercial Officer, where he spearheaded market growth and led key transformation initiatives that strengthened the company's competitive position. Prior to joining Ooredoo, Shadi advised organisations across multiple sectors on growth strategy and go-to-market execution, giving him a broad and versatile commercial perspective.

Academically, Shadi holds a Master's degree in Marketing Management from EDHEC Business School and a Bachelor's degree in Marketing Communications from Brigham Young University, combining strong academic credentials with extensive real-world leadership experience.

On behalf of the Board of Directors, Ooredoo extended its warmest congratulations to Shadi Qawasmi on his new appointment, while expressing heartfelt gratitude to Khalid Al-Hamadi for his outstanding leadership, dedication, and invaluable contributions during his tenure as CEO of Ooredoo Maldives. The group wished both leaders every success in their respective paths ahead.