The Operator Who Advises.
We don't theorize about mega-events. We've delivered them.
Our Story
Built from the Gap Between Strategy and Operations
Founded by Dr. Zied Abbes — Tunisian by origin, 14 years in Qatar, now based in Riyadh and Doha — after a career inside the world's most complex sporting events. The firm was built on a single observation: the gap between strategy and operations is where mega-events die. Abbes Consulting exists to bridge that gap. We don't write reports that sit on shelves. We design governance systems that get used — because we've been the ones using them.
From the FIFA World Cup 2022 to the World Aquatics Championships 2024, from the Qatar 2036 Olympic Bid to the GCC Games 2026, we have operated at the intersection of planning and delivery. Now we advise organizations that are navigating the same complexity.
Why Us
Four reasons organizations choose Abbes Consulting
Insider Access
We are currently inside the Qatar 2036 Olympic Bid, GCC Games 2026, and Asian Games 2030. We know how decisions are made before they are public.
Operational Rigor
PMP-certified project management applied to sport governance. Not theory. Proven frameworks that have managed 400+ personnel across 6 aquatic disciplines.
Academic Authority
PhD-level analytical rigor combined with field-level execution. We model risk. Then we manage it. We don't guess — we validate.
GCC Native
Tunisian by origin, 14 years based in Doha, now based in Riyadh and Doha. Fluent in Arabic. Deep networks across Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE — we know the GCC market from the inside.
Dr. Zied Abbes
Founder & Principal Advisor
Dr. Zied Abbes is a Tunisian sport-event operations leader who spent 14 years based in Doha delivering international competition across the GCC, and is now based between Riyadh and Doha. His track record spans 30+ event editions — World Cups, world championships, multi-sport Games and Olympic bids — from field-of-play and sport presentation through to Games-wide master planning and cross-directorate integration. He is currently building a sports-event delivery business in Saudi Arabia, with an insider's read of the Qatari, Saudi and wider GCC market.
2012–2024
Project Manager
Qatar Swimming Association / QOC
2016–2021
Sport Operations & Presentation Senior Manager
FINA Swimming World Cup & Marathon Swim World Series (10 editions)
2019
Head of Administration & Award Ceremonies
ANOC World Beach Games
2022
Team Base Camp Manager, Team Cameroon
FIFA World Cup 2022
2022–2024
Deputy Director of Sports Operations
World Aquatics Championships (Elite & Masters)
2025–2026
Accreditation Senior Manager
Doha Diamond League (2 editions)
2024–2026
Sport Events Expert — Team Qatar
Qatar Olympic Committee
2025–2026
Senior Events Expert
Asian Games 2030
2025–2026
Head of Strategic Planning & Integration
GCC Games 2026
2025–2026
Lead, Stakeholder Engagement & Reporting (PMO)
Qatar 2036 Olympic Bid
2026–Present
Chief Operating Officer
Plop Makers, Riyadh, KSA
Credentials
- PhD Sport Sciences & Management — Claude Bernard University, France, 2020
- Sports Management & Administration (D.U.G.O.S) — Claude Bernard University, France, 2020
- Diploma in Digital Marketing, Sponsorships & Communication — Barça Innovation Hub, 2021
- PMP — Project Management Program, Excellence Training, Qatar, 2025
- TV Sports Presentation — Al Jazeera Media Institute
- Sports Facilities Management — Barça Innovation Hub
Languages
Arabic (Native), English (Proficient), French (Proficient), Serbian (Advanced), Spanish (Intermediate)
Athletic Background
Tunisian National Swim Team (1999–2008). Tunisian National Water Polo Team (2008–2018). Professional water polo, Strasbourg Club Elite Division (2011–2012).
Our Approach
Four phases. One outcome: events that deliver.
Diagnose
Operational readiness audit
Architect
Governance & PMO framework design
Integrate
Cross-directorate alignment & stakeholder mapping
Sustain
Ongoing advisory & knowledge transfer
Trusted By