Hamda Abdulla Al Hashmi has been a prominent figure in the urban planning landscape of Abu Dhabi, UAE, since 2014. In her current role as Director of the Urban Design Division at the Department of Municipalities & Transport (DMT), she oversees a diverse team of professionals spanning various disciplines, including architecture, landscape design, urban planning, transportation engineering, GIS, utilities, infrastructure, and graphic design. Hamda also leads the management of the DMT Liveability Strategy, steering the development of framework, concept, and detailed master plans at different scales, while also contributing to the formulation of guidelines, policies, and regulations.

Prior to her tenure at DMT, Hamda served with distinction at the Sheikh Zayed Housing Programme in Dubai from 2013 to 2014. Over the course of her career, her exceptional contributions earned her recognition with multiple awards, most recently, Rabdan Awards of Excellence, both in the Innovative Employee category in 2020 and the Technical Employee category in 2014. Committed to continuous learning, Hamda pursued and earned a Masters in Regional & Urban Planning with First Class Honours from Paris Sorbonne University in Abu Dhabi in 2017. Additionally, she holds a BA in Interior Design from Zayed University, Dubai, attained in 2012. She has also pursued courses at esteemed institutions such as the London School of Economics, the Bernard Von Leer Foundation, Lund University, and École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, among others, enhancing her expertise in urban design

Hamda is also an active member of various groups and councils, including DMT’s Future Leader’s Program and the Urban Planning & Facilities Route in the Emirates Council for Infrastructure & Housing. Additionally, she joined the United Nations’ World Urban Forum as Alumni in 2020, further solidifying her commitment to advancing urban planning and infrastructure development in the UAE.