Prof. Abdulrahem Hamoud Al-Zahrani is a Professor of Transportation Engineering at the Civil Engineering Department, King Abdulaziz University. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from King Saud University in Riyadh in 1975. He was assigned as Teaching Assistant in the same year at King Abdulaziz University. In March 1976 he was given a scholarship to continue his graduate studies in the United States, where he joined Bradley University as a Masters Student. During his studies, he worked as a Teaching Assistant in Geotechnical Laboratory and become a Member of Phi Kappa Honor Society. He obtained the M.Sc. with distinction in 1978,then he joined Washington State University as a Ph.D. student where he obtained his degree in July,1983.
Prof. Zahrani joined King Abdulaziz University (KAU) as an Assistant Professor late 1983. He was promoted to Associate Professor in February 1992 and to Full Professor in 1997. He was appointed as College of Engineering’s Director of Academic Affairs in 1986,then he was appointed as Deputy Head of Projects Directorate. From February 1992 until July 1944, Prof. Zahrani was Head of the Projects Directorate (KAU). His responsibilities included the supervision, coordination and follow up of all KAU Master Plan Projects valuing more than 2 Billion Saudi Riyals. Prof. Zahrani was the chairman and member of many University, College and Department committees on the professional, administration and academic affairs.
Prof.Zahrani worked for Savola Company in a loan basis from September 1994 to September 1995.He became a transportation consultant for Hajj Minister in early 1996 until he was appointed as Chairman of the General Transportation Syndicate(An agency responsible for Hajj transport), in 1998. During the period from 2005-2007 he was the transportation advisor for Jeddah Mayor where he developed a comprehensive strategy to alleviates Jeddah traffic congestion.
In September 2008 and under a Royal Decree, Prof.Zahrani was a member of the technical team of the new Al-Masjed Al-Haram Expansion project and the technical director of several strategic studies(The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Project for the Traffic , Crowds , and Public Transportation at Makkah Central Area and the roads leading to Al-Masjed Al-Haram, The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Project for Makkah Al-Mukarramah and Al-Masha’er Al-Mugaddassah Parking Requirements, The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Project for Pedestrian Corridors and their Movements Between Al-Masha’er Al-Mugaddassah and Makkah Al-Mukarramah, The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Project for the Mataf Expansion).
In the last 20 years, he was a Transportation Consultant for the Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Municipalities and Rural Affairs, Ministry of Hajj and Jeddah Municipality.
Prof. Zahrani's research interests are in Urban Transportation Systems, Demand Forecasting ,Traffic Management, Traffic Impact Studies, Hajj Transportation, and Traffic Analysis and Prevention. He participated and attended several conferences and symposiums locally and internationally. His publications in English and Arabic, which appeared in referenced journals, conference papers, research reports and technical papers, are in excess of 55 publications.. He has conducted more than 60 technical and applied studies in the traffic, public and urban transportation areas. He participated and attended more than 10 training sessions and specialized workshops.
Prof.Zahrani is a member in the Saudi Society of Traffic Safety, Saudi Council of Engineers , Saudi Society of Civil Engineering, and Institute of Transportation Engineers (USA).