Building Momentum Beyond Bearings
In September 2026, we get to meet Mohamed Daoudi, Managing Director, SKF Middle East. With more than 18 years at SKF, he has built an international career spanning engineering, sales leadership, business development, and executive management. Based in Dubai and originally from Morocco, Mohamed has played a key role in expanding SKF's presence in the region while driving global growth in advanced industrial technologies. Passionate about innovation, people development, and sustainable growth, he is known for combining Swedish values of trust and transparency with the dynamic, relationship-driven business culture of the Middle East.
SKF was founded in Gothenburg, Sweden, in 1907, and has become a global leader in bearings and sealing technologies. SKF plays an important role in both everyday life and industrial development.
From cars and washing machines to complex industrial machinery, SKF’s products are designed to reduce friction, improve efficiency and help machinery operate smoothly and reliably. With more than a century of engineering experience, the company continues to develop advanced bearing technologies aimed at supporting innovation, industrial progress and a more sustainable future.
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Hej SBC Member!
Mohamed Daoudi, Managing Director, SKF Middle East
Who is Mohamed Daoudi?
I am originally from Morocco and have spent most of my professional life in an international environment. Today, I am based in Dubai with my family, and over the years I have had the opportunity to work with colleagues, customers and partners across Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the Americas.
I joined SKF in 2008 as a Service Engineer, so my career started very close to the technology, the equipment and, most importantly, the customer. From there, I gradually moved into business development, regional and global sales leadership, aftermarket, and eventually broader management responsibilities.
I have always believed strongly in continuous learning. Alongside learning through different roles, cultures and business situations, I completed SKF's International Management Program in 2019 and Advanced Business Leadership Program in 2023.
On a more personal level, I am someone who enjoys building things — businesses, teams, customer relationships and new opportunities. Family is extremely important to me, and it keeps me grounded regardless of how global or demanding the professional environment becomes.
Opening of new factory in Tangier, Morocco
As the Managing Director – SKF Middle East, could you elaborate on your role and key responsibilities? What are the main strategic objectives you are focused on?
I currently combine two responsibilities: I am Managing Director of SKF Middle East Engineering Services in the UAE and Global Sales Director for SKF Magnetic Mechatronics.
This gives me an interesting combination of local and global perspectives. In the Middle East, my responsibility is to develop our organization and capabilities, stay close to our customers, strengthen our engineering and service presence, and ensure that we can support increasingly sophisticated industrial applications locally.
At the same time, my global role involves developing our magnetic bearing and high-speed technology businesses across industries such as energy, LNG, industrial gases, compressors, turbomachinery and increasingly new areas linked to energy efficiency and data-center infrastructure.
ADIPEC Exhibition
The common objective is sustainable and profitable growth. That means more than selling products. It means building long-term customer relationships, developing local capabilities, investing in our people, and making sure that SKF continues bringing technologies that improve reliability, efficiency and sustainability.
With over 18 years of experience at SKF, what are some of the most significant initiatives or projects you have led during your tenure? Could you share any key accomplishments that you feel particularly proud of?
There have been many milestones over the past 18 years, but three are particularly meaningful to me.
The first is the establishment of our factory in Tangier, Morocco. I was involved in driving the project from its early stages, so seeing it become a reality was a very special moment. Beyond the business achievement, it had a strong personal meaning for me. Being originally from Morocco, it felt in some way like giving something back to where I come from — contributing to industrial development, creating capabilities and building something sustainable for the future.
The second was during the COVID-19 period. At a time when travel stopped almost completely and many customers were concerned about access to technical support, we rapidly developed and deployed remote service capabilities using mixed-reality technology. Our experts could virtually support customers and field teams anywhere in the world. What made me particularly proud was not only the technology itself, but the message it sent to our customers: even when we could not physically be there, they were not left alone. It also changed the way we thought about service and opened new possibilities that continued beyond the pandemic.
The third is Dubai. Around 13 years ago, I was involved in establishing our local presence here, starting from a very small operation and gradually developing the organization and capabilities we have today.
Along the way, I have also had the privilege of building and developing leadership teams across different regions of the world and contributing to many other growth initiatives. But Tangier, our response during COVID, and building our presence in Dubai stand out because they represent three things that matter deeply to me: giving back, innovating when circumstances demand it, and building something for the long term.
Embassy of Sweden in Morocco
How would you describe the influence of Swedish culture on your leadership approach and SKF's operations in the Middle East?
After more than 18 years with a Swedish company, certain aspects of Swedish business culture have naturally influenced the way I lead.
Trust is probably the most important. Giving people responsibility, expecting openness and encouraging them to express different views creates stronger teams. I also appreciate the relatively flat management culture, where good ideas are expected to come from everywhere in the organization rather than only from the top.
There is also a strong sense of pragmatism, respect and long-term thinking within Swedish industrial culture. Sustainability is approached not simply as a communication topic but increasingly as part of how products, technologies and businesses need to be developed.
In the Middle East, however, leadership also needs to reflect the local environment, where personal relationships, responsiveness and speed are extremely important. I therefore do not believe in simply transferring one culture into another. The strength comes from combining the best elements: Swedish trust, transparency and long-term thinking with the entrepreneurship, relationships and dynamism that characterize the Middle East.
Looking ahead, what personal and professional goals do you aspire to achieve? What drives you?
Professionally, I want to continue taking on broader business leadership responsibilities while remaining connected to technology, customers and people.
We are entering a fascinating period for industry. Energy efficiency, electrification, digitalization, AI and new infrastructure requirements are changing how companies operate. I want to contribute to that transformation and help build businesses that combine industrial technology with these new possibilities.
I am also increasingly interested in developing the next generation of leaders. As your responsibilities grow, success becomes less about what you personally achieve and more about what the people around you are able to accomplish.
Personally, I want to remain curious and continue learning, while keeping the right balance between professional ambition, health, family and enjoying the journey.
What drives me is quite simple: progress. Building something that did not exist before, developing people, solving difficult customer problems and seeing an idea become a successful business remain extremely motivating to me.