A highly esteemed Emeritus Professor of Architecture and Urban Planning at Al-Azhar University's Faculty of Engineering, with a distinguished career spanning over five decades in academic leadership, research, and professional consultancy.

Holding a PhD in Architecture and Urban Planning (Dr. Eng.) from Stuttgart University, Germany (1980), Prof. Serag is an authority on strategic planning, particularly in the fields of tourism development and sustainable housing. His doctoral research focused on tourism planning for the North West Coast of Egypt, which has informed his extensive professional practice.

As the Founder and Principal of the Engineering Office for Planning and Architecture (ECOPA) since 1994, he has served as a Chef Consultant and Team Leader on numerous national and regional mega-projects. His urban planning portfolio includes strategic and detailed plans for major Egyptian cities (e.g., Mansoura, Qaliub, Ashmoun, Meet Ghamer, and Toshka) and international projects in Saudi Arabia. He is recognized as a Grade "A" Consultant within Egypt’s General Organization for Physical Planning (GOPP).

In academia, Prof. Serag has held key leadership roles, including Vice Dean and Head of the Architectural Department at Al-Azhar University. He has supervised over 36 Master's and PhD theses and served on permanent academic promotion committees for professors across Al-Azhar and King Saud Universities.

A published author with significant research on urban heritage, modern architecture trends, and public space in Islamic cities, Prof. Serag's work reflects a deep commitment to integrating academic rigor with practical, high-impact professional solutions. He is fluent in Arabic, German, and English.

A preeminent figure in Urban Planning and Architecture, boasting a distinguished career that spans over 50 years in academic research, leadership, and professional consultancy. She holds a Doctorate in Architecture and Planning from Stuttgart University, Germany (1980), and has specialized expertise across urban planning, design, housing, and environmental assessment.

For years, Prof. El-Wakil was a pivotal leader at Ain Shams University, serving as the Head of the Department of Urban Planning and a Full Professor. Her academic influence extended nationally as a Member of the Permanent Academic Committee for Promoting Professors within the Supreme Council of Universities (2001–2008), and internationally as a Visiting Professor at renowned institutions like UCL London, the University of Sheffield, and Stuttgart University, where she lectured on Egyptian planning trends and informal housing.

In the professional field, Prof. El-Wakil is a highly sought-after expert, recognized as a Grade 'A' Consultant for the General Organization for Physical Planning (GOPP). She is the Founder and Principal of the Engineering Office: Prof. Dr. Shafak El Wakil for Planning and Architecture (since 2003) and a co-founder of ECOPA. Her extensive professional portfolio includes:

• Strategic Planning: Leading the development of strategic and detailed master plans for numerous cities and villages across Egypt (e.g., Ashmoun, Mansoura, Elkharga, Komombo, Qaliub, Mansoura , meet ghamer , sherbeen …).

• Urban Renewal: Coordinating international competitions for the revitalization of historic areas like the Khedivian Cairo and Attaba/Opera Squares.

• Environmental & Housing Studies: Serving as a Consultant for the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA) and conducting critical studies on housing development, climatological impact, and environmental impact assessment.

Prof. Dr. El-Wakil is also a prolific author, having published influential books on Urban Planning Basics and Climate and Architecture of Hot Regions, solidifying his legacy as a leading authority in sustainable and context-aware design and development. He is fluent in Arabic, French, German, and English.

A leading academic and consultant in Urban and Regional Planning, distinguished by his strong international education, focus on complex peripheral regions, and expertise in technology-driven planning approaches. Born in Stuttgart, Germany, and fluent in English, he brings a global perspective to Egyptian and MENA regional challenges.

Currently, Dr. Serag serves as the Dean for the Architectural Engineering Department at Future University in Egypt (on academic leave from Ain Shams University , demonstrating his commitment to integrating academic knowledge with societal impact.

His core expertise lies in the application of Networking and Networks as strategic tools for regional spatial development, which was the focus of his PhD in Regional and Urban Planning from the prestigious KU Leuven, Belgium (2008). This specialisation is complemented by a Master's degree in Architecture Human Settlements (KU Leuven) and a Post Graduate Certificate in European Spatial Planning (University of Newcastle upon Tyne).

Key Highlights and Professional Impact

• International Research Leader: Dr. Serag is the Team Leader/Project Manager for the Erasmus+ UPGRADE project at Future University, focusing on Sustainable Urban Mobility approaches in the MENA region in collaboration with European universities like the Technical University of Berlin (TUBerlin).

• Post-Conflict Reconstruction: He is an active contributor to international discourse on post-conflict urbanism, having led workshops and provided proposals for the reconstruction and repair of historical city cores in Benghazi, Homs, and Mosul.

• Strategic Planning Expert: As a Senior Planning Consultant, he has been directly involved in setting strategic development visions for diverse and complex regions, including the Darfur region (Sudan) and the politically sensitive Halayeb-Shalateen border region in South Egypt, in addition to strategic plans for four major Egyptian Delta cities (Mansoura, Meet Ghamr, Sherbeen, and Talkha).

• Global Academic Bridge: He served as the Program Coordinator for the joint Integrated Urbanism and Sustainable Design (IUSD) Master's program between Ain Shams University and Stuttgart University. He is also the Country Representative to Egypt for the Regional Studies Association (RSA), connecting regional science and practice across the Middle East.

Dr. Serag’s research is published in top-tier journals and presented at major international conferences, addressing critical topics such as the impact of politics on planning, post-conflict reconstruction, and lessons from urban social networking (e.g., the Egyptian "Lotus Revolution"). He maintains a strong professional consultancy profile, contributing to urban upgrading, detailed architectural design, and historical building renovation projects.