Mr. Sateh El-Arnaout, a dual Lebanese/British national, joined the World Bank in 2002 as a Senior Urban Specialist. He obtained his PhD Degree from the Imperial College in London, UK, where he became a “Chartered Engineer” (CEng). In 1989, he was awarded the “Sir Benjamin Baker” medal by the UK’s "Institution of Civil Engineers" for his work on asset management in the United Kingdom.
During 2007-2010, he took leave without pay from the World Bank and assumed the role of Chief Technical Advisor at the Prime Minister’s office in Lebanon. During that period, he provided policy advice to the Government of Lebanon in areas related to infrastructure reforms, special economic zones and post-conflict reconstruction.
He has been engaged in the urban sector in 30 countries across Europe, Africa, Asia and the Middle East both outside and inside the World Bank. His most recent posting in Africa was as the SD Program Leader for Nigeria from 2013 to 2016. He has since been managing an expanding urban advisory program in South Africa and leading the Bank’s urban engagement in Afghanistan.