Director of GCC Nations – Sports Tourism, Strategic Investments and Resource Mobilization
Sultan bin Suleiman Al Ismaily
A seasoned professional with more than 20 years of experience in performance leadership, program development, strategic planning, and project management.
Currently, Sultan serves within the Local Value Added (LVA) team at Petroleum Development Oman (PDO), where he contributes to partnership development, business growth initiatives, and investment opportunities that strengthen local content and economic development.
Throughout his career, he has held leadership positions managing local investment programs and community relations initiatives that strengthen ties between Petroleum Development Oman and communities within the company’s concession areas. He also led the “Irtiqaa” awareness and development program, designed to guide small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) toward securing opportunities within the oil and gas sector.
Internationally, he spent nine years working in international relations, where he helped organize diplomatic events, engage with international organizations, and build relationships between international institutions and both the education and sports sectors in Washington, D.C.
More recently, he assumed the role of President of Fanja Club, where he is leading the development of a clear strategic vision and key objectives aligned with Oman Vision 2040. His focus is on institutional development, strengthening the club’s administrative and technical structures, and advancing sports development within Oman.
Sultan also has extensive experience in sports, having represented Oman in its national football teams, which has further strengthened his passion for contributing to the advancement of sports in the Sultanate.
Professional Experience
Petroleum Development Oman (PDO)
Local Value Added Assurance Officer
2014 – Present | Muscat, Sultanate of Oman
Responsibilities include:
* Maximizing local value creation through sustainable community development programs.
* Developing partnerships and enhancing business opportunities to strengthen local content and investment.
* Program development, strategic planning, and project management.
* Managing social performance and assessing community impacts of projects.
* Monitoring and evaluating community development initiatives to ensure alignment with sustainable development goals.
* Managing local investment and community relations programs.
Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia
Academic Advisor & Government Relations
2009 – 2013 | Washington, D.C., USA
Responsibilities included:
* Coordinating between Saudi and American educational institutions and students.
* Advising educational missions on academic and legal affairs.
* Supporting Saudi students and facilitating their academic procedures.
Akron Public Schools / U.S. Department of Education
Social Counselor & Translator
2004 – 2008 | Ohio, USA
Responsibilities included:
* Serving as a liaison between educational institutions and Arab and African families.
* Translating educational documents between English and Arabic.
* Providing educational policy guidance to immigrant and international students.
Sporting Achievements
Oman National Football Team
* Gulf Cup (14th Gulf Cup) – Bahrain
* AFC Asian Cup – Japan
Oman Youth National Teams
* AFC U-19 Asian Cup and FIFA U-20 World Cup – Qatar
* FIFA U-17 World Cup – Ecuador
* Gulf Clubs Championship U-16 – Saudi Arabia
Club Career
* Played eight seasons in the Oman Professional League with Fanja Club.
Education
Malone University, United States
Bachelor of Science in Political Science
(2004)
University of Akron, United States
Master’s Degree in Public Administration
(2007)
Core Competencies
* Influential Leadership
* Innovation & Development
* Crisis Management
* Strategic Planning
Languages
* Arabic
* English
* Swahili
