Ibrahim Z. Bahreldin

Associate Professor of Urban & Environmental Design, King Abdulaziz University
Dr. Ibrahim Z. Bahreldin is a Sudanese urbanist and educator with a diverse and interdisciplinary education in architecture, human settlements, urban design, and planning. He earned his degrees from the University of Khartoum (2001), KU Leuven University in Belgium (2003), and Waseda University-Tokyo in Japan (2012). He also enriched his knowledge and skills by attending several international and regional capacity-building and training programs in urban design, city planning, and participatory design.
Ibrahim has a rich and diverse architecture and urban design background, having worked on projects of different scales and contexts in Sudan and Japan. He is a registered architect and planner in the Sudanese Institute of Architects (SIA), the City Planning Institute of Japan (CPIJ), and the Saudi Council of Engineers (SCE). He balances his academic and research pursuits with a dynamic professional practice, collaborating with various NGOs, the private sector, and government agencies as a consultant. He also offers his expertise as an independent architecture and urban planning consultant.
Dr. Bahreldin has a long and distinguished career in teaching, researching, and leading academic institutions. As the head of the Urban Planning and Design department at the University of Khartoum for four years (2015–2019), he pioneered the first Ph.D. program in urban planning in the country. He introduced two master’s programs in urban design and urban planning and management. He also took charge of the Master of Urban Design in Hot-Arid Areas at the Future University in Sudan, a joint program with Venice University. Moreover, he served as the Director of Investment at the University of Khartoum from 2016–2017, where he initiated some vital projects.
Ibrahim is passionate about shaping the future of cities and communities in Sudan and beyond. He helped establish the Sudanese Urban Planning Association (SUPA) and the Sudanese Urban and Regional Planning Association (SURPA), and he currently serves as the country representative of the African Association of Planners. He is also an active member of various global networks and initiatives that promote planning and place-making. He has extensive experience designing, directing, and conducting training programs for professionals who want to enhance their city planning and urbanism skills and knowledge.
Ibrahim is a prolific and influential scholar and practitioner in architecture and urbanism. He serves as an editorial member of several academic journals and has edited some special issues in renowned journals. He has also received many local and international awards, scholarships, and recognitions for his academic and professional excellence. He has published widely on architecture, public engagement, place-making, public space, public art, and activism. He has led and coordinated various research and professional projects in Sudan and Saudi Arabia that focused on master plans, place-making strategies, space production and activism initiatives, and community engagement programs. His academic work, research, and teaching emphasize the importance of creating meaningful and inclusive public places.